cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Induction of human IgE synthesis requires interleukin 4 and T/B cell interactions involving the T cell receptor/CD3 complex and MHC class II antigens.

The induction of IgE synthesis by IL-4 requires T cells and monocytes, as well as T cell- and monocyte-derived cytokines. Optimal cytokine combinations, however, fail to induce highly purified B cells to secrete IgE, indicating that additional signals are required. We show herein that the induction of human IgE synthesis by rIL-4 requires cognate interaction between the T cell receptor/CD3 complex on T cells and MHC class II antigens on B cells: mAbs directed against these molecules completely blocked IL-4-dependent IgE induction. mAbs against cell adhesion molecules (CD2, CD4, LFA-1) also inhibited IgE synthesis induced by IL-4, confirming that cell-cell contact is necessary for IgE induction. The requirement for cognate T/B cell interaction was further shown by comparing the IgE-inducing ability of two human IL-4-producing alloreactive T cell clones: F6, which recognizes MHC class II antigens on both B cells and monocytes, and A1, which recognizes an HLA-DP- associated epitope expressed on monocytes, but not on B cells. When incubated with B cells and monocytes from a normal donor bearing the appropriate alloantigen, clone F6, but not clone A1, induced vigorous IgE synthesis, although both clones proliferated and secreted IL-4. Taken together, our results suggest that at least two, possibly synergizing, signals are required for the T cell-dependent induction of IgE synthesis by B cells: one signal is delivered by cognate T/B cell interaction, the other by T cell-derived IL-4.
A rapid nondestructive method for root dentin moisture measurements: in vitro pilot study

Dentin moisture content is important in adhesive bonding and structural strength research; however, there is no rapid method available to assess dentin moisture without sample destruction. This study examined the use of a digital grain moisture meter to measure root dentin moisture in vitro. Extracted mandibular single-rooted teeth were sectioned at the CEJ. The moisture of the root dentin was measured at 6 measuring modes for different grains and repeated 5 times. Dentin weight changes before and after drying were measured to obtain control values. The control values were compared with machine readings. In conclusion, (1) each nondestructive measurement took less than 30 seconds, (2) 24 hours of storage at 37°C and 100% humidity did not restore dentin moisture, and (3) 5 grain modes had a high validity and could be used for dentin moisture measurements.
Toxicosis in Sheep Following Ingestion of Natural Gas Condensate

Thirty of 200 ewes died or were euthanatized during a 21-day period following a l-day accidental exposure to natural gas condensate, a complex mixture of hydrocarbons obtained during collection of natural gas from wells. Despite access to potable well water, the poisoned ewes willingly consumed toxic doses of condensate that contaminated surface water. Eight animals died without premonitory signs; the remainder became ill over the course ofa few days to 3 weeks. The principal cause ofmortality was aspiration pneumonia, but myocardial degeneration and necrosis, renal tubular damage, gastritis, enteritis, and meningeal edema and hyperemia were also observed. Gas chromatographic analysis identified chemical traces of the hydrocarbons in the tissues, and "fingerprinting," the process of matching chromatographic tracings, provided forensic proof of the contamination source. Atomic absorption spectroscopy and cholinesterase analyses were performed to eliminate the possibility of toxicosis by heavy metal contaminants or other constituents. This appears to be the first reported incidence of natural gas condensate toxicity involving sheep or other ruminants. Although the available literature presents a suggestive pattern of clinical signs and pathologic lesions of petroleum product poisoning, diagnostic investigations should employ detailed analytic examination because each source of pe­ troleum hydrocarbons contains unique sets of components that may produce different toxic effects.
CCAD: A paradigm for human-computer cooperation in design

Cooperative computer-aided design (CCAD) is a paradigm for combining the strengths of manual and automated design activity. The goal of CCAD is to support exploratory design, while keeping the user central to the design activity. In the CCAD paradigm, the user expresses initial design decisions in the form of a partial design and a set of properties that the final design must have. The system then generates alternative partial developments of the initial design subject to a "language" of valid designs. It structures the results in a spatial framework through which the user moves to explore the alternatives. The user selects the most promising partial design, refines it manually, and then requests further automatic development. This process continues until the design is complete. Thus, CCAD supports the exploratory nature of creative design activity. The user makes critical decisions, while the system generates alternatives and presents them to the user for browsing. >
Limited Access: The Status of Disability in Introductory Psychology Textbooks

We content analyzed 24 best-selling introductory psychology textbooks to assess the presence and nature of material addressing issues of disability. Content analyses assessed the frequency with which specific impairments are presented, the chapters and topics most likely to contain disability-related material, the context in which people with disabilities are portrayed, and the type of language used to discuss disability. Results indicated that material on disability in introductory textbooks continues to be limited and portrays people with disabilities in a stereotypical manner. Recommendations are presented for improving the integration of disability into introductory psychology textbooks.
Feasibility and outcomes of repeat partial nephrectomy.

Purpose: Despite the proven efficacy of nephron sparing surgery, patients with hereditary renal cancer remain at risk for tumor recurrence. Management options for recurrent tumors include completion nephrectomy, ablation and repeat partial nephrectomy. We examine the feasibility and outcomes of repeat partial nephrectomy performed on the same renal unit.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 51 attempted repeat partial nephrectomy procedures in 47 patients from 1992 to 2006. Demographic information as well as intraoperative, perioperative and renal functional outcome data were collected. Comparison of preoperative and postoperative renal function was performed using the 2-tailed t test.Results: Major perioperative complications or reoperations occurred in 10 of 51 (19.6%) cases that included 1 perioperative mortality (1.9%). In cases of successful repeat partial nephrectomy there was a statistically significant increase in postoperative serum creatinine (1.35 vs 1.16 mg/dl, p <0...
A probabilistic model based approach for blended search

In this paper, we propose to model the blended search problem by assuming conditional dependencies among queries, VSEs and search results. The probability distributions of this model are learned from search engine query log through unigram language model. Our experimental exploration shows that, (1) a large number of queries in generic Web search have vertical search intentions; and (2) our proposed algorithm can effectively blend vertical search results into generic Web search, which can improve the Mean Average Precision (MAP) by as much as 16% compared to traditional Web search without blending.
Use of Models in Low-Dose Extrapolation

A major problem faced by regulatory agencies today is establishing acceptably low exposure levels to known or potential human carcinogens in the environment. Such regulations are required of the Environmental Protection Agency for toxic substances, of the Food and Drug Administration for food contaminants, of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for workplace environments, and of the Consumer Products Safety Commission for hazardous consumer products.
MRMV: design and evaluation of a multi-radio multi-vehicle system for metro-WiFi access

In this work we design and evaluate the MRMV (Multi-Radio Multi-Vehicle) system for vehicular WiFi access in the 2.4 GHz band. The design essentially centers around the vehicular client that accesses typical metro-WiFi networks (V2I) under vehicular mobility. MRMV has two features that makes it unique -- i) it uses multiple WiFi interfaces that intelligently associates to different APs to mask handoff latencies, (ii) it is able to use other MRMV clients as relays (V2V) and is thus able to avoid coverage holes. The V2V link uses 900 MHz interfaces for interference avoidance and better ranges. We provide extensive performance evaluation of the MRMV system using a large scale metro-WiFi deployment. We show both connectivity (periods of non-zero throughput) and median throughputs improve substantially over default cases. Overall performance numbers indicate that the MRMV system can be an excellent platform for offloading data from cellular data networks onto unlicensed bands for ubiquitous and high throughput vehicular connectivity.
Dr. Simpson comes to gloucestershire

Our understanding of the relative contagiousness of various common infectious diseases is derived from several sources: a few deliberate studies, such as planned ingestion of known inocula of salmonella or shigella’; “accidents of nature” wherein an outbreak of tuberculosis,’ measles3 or the like, leads to an improved understanding of a known principle of transmission or elucidation of a new one; or retrospective, often communityor hospitalbased prevalence studies, where a team of researchers delineates the extent of a specific disease. Examples of the latter include studies of tuberculosis,* hepatitis B,5 and the childhood viral exanthems,6%7 including measles, mumps, and chickenpox. Many of the latter type of communityor hospitalbased studies are now decades old and long-ago entered standard texts as “the facts of life.” Everyone, for example, is aware that varicella virus is extremely contagious, more so than diseases such as tuberculosisThe studies that led to this now seemingly self-evident truth however, are long forgotten. A review of two seminal studies demonstrating the contagiousness of chickenpox and other childhood illnesses is immensely instructive, demonstrating both the quality and the keenness of the observations as well as the painstaking work that went into each.6,7 Pox were counted, families and primary physicians interviewed and prodded, and cautious conclusions made. R. E. Hope Simpson conducted a landmark study, “Infectiousness of Communicable Diseases in the Household (Measles, Chickenpox, Mumps):’ and established and confiied certain rules of thumb that guide current infectious disease and infection control practitioners.6 The study was performed in Gloucestershire, a semirural town of some 11,000 inhabitants, as well as the surrounding agricultural area. Complete records were kept over 4 years, from June 1,1947, to May 3 1,195 1. Members of the epidemiologic research unit, including Dr. Simpson, visited the town frequently, confirming each diagnosis with great care, thus ensuring the quality of the data.This was par-
Smoking, Obesity, and Statin Therapy in the Prognosis of Prostate Cancer

TO THE EDITOR: Gutt et al documented fewer recurrences among men with radiation-treated prostate cancer who had received statin therapy during or after their radiation therapy. They interpreted their observations to indicate a favorable influence by statins on prostate cancer behavior, a conclusion that is not appropriate unless observations are controlled for host factors that may have influenced tumor behavior. Most studies examining relationships between smoking and prostate cancer recurrence or tumor-related mortality demonstrate smoking-related increases in both, even after controlling for multiple factors including the more advanced malignant disease at presentation and the smaller prostate size characteristic of smokers. In a study similar to that of Gutt et al, Pantarotto et al reported follow-up data from 434 patients after external-beam radiation therapy with curative intent. In patients who had been current smokers at the time of therapy, they found a recurrence rate 5.2 times greater than the rate of life-long nonsmokers, and in former smokers, the recurrence rate was 2.9 times greater. Studies examining relationships between obesity and prostate cancer recurrence or tumor-related mortality have demonstrated an inconsistent pattern. Gong et al retrospectively analyzed tumor characteristics, body mass index (BMI), and smoking habits in 752 patients with prostate cancer and reported that prostate cancer–specific mortality was doubled in men with a BMI 30 kg/m compared with men who were less obese and that this mortality was 2.3 times as great in smokers compared with nonsmokers. Freedland et al reported a 2.09-fold increased risk of prostate-specific antigen failure in severely obese men (BMI 35 kg/m) and, in a recent review, concluded that obesity may reduce the risk of nonaggressive disease but increase the risk of aggressive disease, especially in those with BMI 35 kg/m. These observations suggest that if smokers in the study by Gutt et al had been less likely to receive statins either because of their lower average weight and associated lower lipid values or because of a lower level of interest in maintaining optimal health, then statin consumers would have included lower percentages of smokers, contributing to a lower frequency of tumor recurrences among them, and that the distribution of obese men might also have influenced recurrence rates. Analysis of BMI and smoking habits of their patients would increase the value of their analysis, while adding to the body of information that eventually should help to define any influence that statin therapy might have on prostate cancer behavior.
Hydrocarbon Maturation in Laramide Basins--Constraints from Evolution of Northern Big Horn Basin, Wyoming and Montana: ABSTRACT

Thermal and mechanical models were used to quantify the effects of Laramide uplifts and subsequent synorogenic deposition on the hydrocarbon maturation of Cretaceous source rocks in the Big Horn basin. Laramide deformation and resultant sedimentation has clearly affected hydrocarbon maturation of Cretaceous source rocks (Thermopolis, Mowry, Frontier, Cody). Modified Lopatin-type reconstructions suggest that a significant region containing Cretaceous source rocks has been within the liquid hydrocarbon window. The earliest onset of hydrocarbon maturation in the northern Big Horn basin was latest Eocene, with some regions still containing immature Cretaceous source rocks as a consequence of Cenozoic erosion, uplift of the Pryor Mountains, and lack of burial. Regional geologic features indicate that the basin formed as a result of flexural compensation of an elastic lithosphere during emplacement of the Beartooth and Pryor Mountains, and possibly the Absaroka volcanics. This was determined by 2-dimensional models which predict sediment thicknesses caused by tectonic loading and subsequent sedimentation. Flexural rigidities of 1021-1022 newton-meters adequately explain flexural subsidence in the northern Big Horn basin. The present basin configuration also was compared with a theoretical profile based on geologic constraints. Subsidence models for the present basin profile suggest that Paleocene thrusting of the Beartooth block contributes a majority of the tectonic loading and that Cenozoic erosion has drastically affected the resultant sedimentary sequence (Fort Union and Wasatch). These models, along with stratigraphic reconstructions, can be combined to pinpoint areas of potential hydrocarbon maturation within Laramide-type basins. End_of_Article - Last_Page 482------------
Hitting a moving target: Acquisition of sound change in progress by Philadelphia children

Recent work in the acquisition of dialect has shown that children acquire patterns of stable variation and completed sound changes at a very early age. The present study looks at the acquisition of new sound changes by 3- and 4-year-old children. The results were consistent with previous findings in that, with critical exceptions, the children had acquired the changes. These results underscore the point that the dialect transmission period begins early – before the age of maximal peer group influence. In addition, as Labov (1994) suggested, one possible explanation for the frequent finding that women lead in changes from below is the asymmetry of the early childcare situation, which could advance female-dominated changes. The finding that children begin to learn their community norms at a very early age supports the possibility that this childcare asymmetry affects the progress of sound changes over time.
Interaction of Various Phenethylamines with the Adrenergic-Adipose Tissue Receptor System, In Vitro

The interaction of several phenethylamines with the rat adipose tissue adrenergic receptor system has been studied utilizing the release of free fatty acids as an index of the interaction. It has been established that structural modifications of the basic phenethylamine molecule produced marked changes in the affinity of the agonists for this system and, to a lesser degree, in the intrinsic activity constants. N -Substitution of large alkyl functions increased affinity most markedly. Hydroxylation of the β carbon of the ethylamino side chain also enhanced affinity, while changes in the ring substitution produced changes varying from complete loss of all activity to alterations in the affinity constants. Phenethylamine, tyramine, ephedrine, amphetamine, and metanephrine were found to be inactive in this system. The catechol nucleus appears to confer optimal activity upon the agonist molecule, but structural modifications, particularly upon the side chain nitrogen, markedly affect the ability of the molecule to release free fatty acids from adipose tissue, in vitro .
Indulgence or Self-Control: A Dual Process Model of the Effect of Incidental Pride on Indulgent Choice

This research examines the largely unexamined effect of incidental pride on consumer self-control. The results demonstrate that incidental pride influences long-term goal pursuit through dual processes that result in conflicting outcomes for consumer decisions: indulgent choices when promoting a sense of achievement and virtuous choices when promoting self-awareness. A series of four experiments in the money and health domains shows that the relative weight of each process at the time of a decision determines whether incidental pride leads to more or less indulgence. We provide outcome and process support for our theory, linking pride to self-control behavior in the consumption domain, and rule out alternative explanations for our findings. Thus, the findings demonstrate that the influence of incidental pride on self-control is contingent on the cognitive and contextual factors that affect decision making.
Localizing arithmetic processes in the brain: Evidence from a transient deficit during cortical stimulation

Although substantial progress has been made in characterizing the cognitive processes involved in simple arithmetic, the localization of these processes in the brain is not yet well understood. In this article we consider the localization of a specific arithmetic process, the retrieval of arithmetic table facts from memory. We report a single-patient study in which cortical stimulation was used to create transient disruption of brain activity in localized regions of the cortex. We show that stimulation at a left parietal site impaired performance on simple multiplication problems and further that the impairment reflected stimulation-induced disruption of arithmetic fact retrieval. Our findings support the hypothesis (e.g., Warrington, 1982) that the left parietal lobe is implicated in the arithmetic fact retrieval process.
Nanophotonic device optimization with adjoint FDTD

The sensitivity of a nanophotonic device's performance with respect to changes in its shape and size can be efficiently obtained by adjoint FDTD. By optimizing the structure's boundary we constrain resulting designs to be fabricatable.
A primary culture of guinea pig gallbladder epithelial cells that is responsive to secretagogues.

We have developed a cell culture of guinea pig gallbladder epithelial cells with which to study ion transport. When grown on permeable supports, the cultured epithelia developed a transepithelial r...
P-element-induced interallelic gene conversion of insertions and deletions in Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract We studied the process by which whd, a P-element insertion allele of the Drosophila melanogaster white locus, is replaced by its homolog in the presence of transposase. These events are interpreted as the result of double-strand gap repair following excision of the P transposon in whd. We used a series of alleles derived from whd through P-element mobility as templates for this repair. One group of alleles, referred to collectively as whd-F, carried fragments of the P element that had lost some of the sequences needed in cis for mobility. The other group, whd-D, had lost all of the P insert and had some of the flanking DNA from white deleted. The average replacement frequencies were 43% for whd-F alleles and 7% for the whd-D alleles. Some of the former were converted at frequencies exceeding 50%. Our data suggest that the high conversion frequencies for the whd-F templates can be attributed at least in part to an elevated efficiency of repair of unexpanded gaps that is possibly caused by the closer match between whd-F sequences and the unexpanded gap endpoints. In addition, we found that the gene substitutions were almost exclusively in the direction of whd being replaced by the whd-F or whd-D allele rather than the reverse. The template alleles were usually unaltered in the process. This asymmetry implies that the conversion process is unidirectional and that the P fragments are not good substrates for P-element transposase. Our results help elucidate a highly efficient double-strand gap repair mechanism in D. melanogaster that can also be used for gene replacement procedures involving insertions and deletions. They also help explain the rapid spread of P elements in populations.
Innovative Educational Collaboration between Colleges to Improve Disabilities and Enhance Learning

ABSTRACT Interdisciplinary collaboration in higher education can produce valuable learning experiences beyond that of a single discipline approach. The University of Detroit Mercy College of Engineering and College of Health Professions have effectively collaborated yielding results that benefit not only the student but physically challenged individuals living in the Detroit area. Teams of engineering students and nursing students work together on projects to build assistive devices that improve the lives of people in need. This paper describes the techniques, goals and objectives used in multidisciplinary collaborative education. Students who have completed the course have described an enhanced understanding of how to effectively collaborate with members of other disciplines. Clients who have worked with the multidisciplinary teams have benefited by receiving assistive devices that have significantly improved their activities of daily living.
A MULTI-FRONTAL ALGORITHM FOR PARALLEL PROCESSING OF LARGE EIGENPROBLEMS

This paper presents a new numerical a1 gori thm for the solution of 1 arge-order eigenproblems typically encountered in 1 inear elastic finite element systems. The architecture of parallel processing is utilized in the algorithm to achieve increased speed and efficiency of calculations. The a1 gori thm is based on the frontal technique for the solution of linear simultaneous e quations and the modified subspace eigenanalysi s method for the solution of the eigenproblem. Assembly, el imination and back-substi tution of degrees of freedom are performed concurrently, using a number of fronts. All fronts converge to and diverge from a predefined global front during el imination and back-substi tution, respectively In the meantime, reduction of the stiffness and mass matrices required by the modified subspace method can be completed during the convergence/dive rgence cycle and an estimate of the required ei genpai rs obtained. Successive cycles of convergence and divergence are repeated unti 1 the desi red accuracy of calculations is achieved. The advantages of this new algorithm in parallel computer architecture are discussed. Key factors are identified to assist in successful implementation of the algori thin and realization of its potential benefit in speeding up the a nalysis of large finite element systems. Nomenclature
Frozen Food and National Socialist Expansionism

AbstractFast freezing, developed from the 1920s, preserved food quality, taste, and appearance better than earlier techniques. After 1933, the National Socialists encouraged fast freezing in Germany because it promised to solve wartime supply problems and aligned with their ideas about modernity, efficiency, and centralization. During World War II, they used freezing to integrate the agricultural products of occupied and allied areas into a continental European economy (Grossraumwirtschaft) under German control. Although occupied populations might have been expected to reject the German-led spread of fast freezing, French responses to these initiatives suggest that some occupied people interpreted them more positively. French experts saw German fast freezing as a continuation of pre-war projects and an investment for the post-war, when they hoped to see France use new infrastructures to gain a pivotal position in a broader European food economy. After surveying alignments between National Socialist expans...
Why the Status Quo Isn’t Good Enough – Examining Student Success for Diverse Populations in the United States

Attending college and earning a degree remain key to improving one’s life chances and social mobility. In fact, in the early 21st century we have entered an era in which attending higher education and obtaining a degree are now in many countries the minimum threshold for entry into the middle class (Carnevale et al., 2010; Rothwell, 2012).
Mitral valve replacement in children

Mitral valve replacement (MVR) is associated with higher mortality and morbidity rates in children than in adults, and the use of heterograft valves has been encouraged. The results of MVR in 56 consecutive patients, aged 2 to 12 years, presenting between January, 1972, and January 1979, were reviewed to test these beliefs. The etiology of mitral valve disease was rheumatic in 46, congenital in eight, and acute bacterial endocarditis in two. All children were seriously disabled (NYHA Classes III and IV). Cardiac catheterization in 36 patients revealed mixed valve disease in 26, pure mitral regurgitation in seven, and pure mitral stenosis in three. Seventeen Starr-Edwards (SE), five Lillehei (L), Bjork-Shiley (BS), eight Hancock (H), and 25 Carpentier-Edwards (CE) mitral prosthesis were inserted. Operative mortality was 2% (1 BS) and late mortality was 10% (three SE, one L, two CE). Serious late complications occurred in 30% of survivors, including 11 instances of calcific valve stenosis (five H, six CE), one case of valve thrombosis (1 L), and two embolic episodes (1 SER, 1 H). Survival curves were similar for patients with heterograft and mechanical valves (92% and 77% at 5 years). Event-free curves showed heterograft valves to have a far higher complication rate than mechanical valves (10% complication free at 4 years compared to 84% free at 5 years). Early operative results in children are excellent, and the overall mortality (10%) compares favorably with figures for MVR in adults. However the long-term durability and choice of prostheses remain problematical, since less than 10% of heterograft valves survive beyond 5 years.
Turnover of hepatic and plasma triacylglycerol in sheep.

Contributions of the intestine and liver to triacylglycerol (TG) formation from endogenous fatty acids were investigated in sheep. Cannulation and sampling of the intestinal lymph ducts and portal veins of two mature, nonpregnant ewes followed by an i.v. dose of 100 microCi of [14C]palmitate into a mesenteric cannula suggested intestinal contribution to endogenous TG production to be of no consequence. Turnover rates of TG within the plasma, hepatic microsomal and hepatic fat droplet compartments of four wethers averaged 20 +/- 8, 7.8 +/- 1.5 and 2.3 +/- .8 mg.h-1.kg body weight-1, respectively. A large, relatively inert pool of fat droplets with a slow turnover contained between 80 and 90% of the total hepatic TG. Hepatic TG concentration and turnover rates within the hepatic microsomal and fat droplet pools were inversely (r = -.86) and positively (r = .99) correlated, respectively, indicating that hepatic secretion of TG as lipoprotein was decreased as hepatic TG concentration increased. The model developed from these figures suggest that 40% of the plasma TG turnover is of endogenous origin and that this percentage value decreases when hepatic TG content is increased.
Germ Cell Commitment to Oogenic Versus Spermatogenic Pathway: The Role of Retinoic Acid

The core of the decision to commit to either oogenesis or spermatogenesis lies in the timing of meiotic entry. Primordial germ cells within the fetal ovary become committed to the female pathway prior to birth and enter meiosis during embryonic development. In the fetal testis, however, the germ cells are protected from this signal before birth and instead receive this trigger postnatally. There is a growing body of evidence to indicate that RA is the meiosis-inducing factor in both sexes, with the gender-specific timing of meiotic entry controlled via degradation of this molecule only within the fetal testis. This chapter will review our current understanding of how RA controls germ cell fate in both the embryonic ovary and postnatal testis, highlighting the key studies that have led to the hypothesis that RA can drive the commitment to meiosis in both sexes and discussing the current debate over whether RA truly is the meiosis-inducing factor in the fetal ovary.
Direct oral anticoagulants for venous thromboembolism treatment and prophylaxis

Direct oral anticoagulants are a popular option for prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism. However, they possess significantly different pharmacologic properties from warfarin. This article reviews approved direct oral anticoagulants, their indications, pharmacologic properties, monitoring, and reversal strategies.
The Essential Political Problem

Lawless beasts once roamed Europe. In 1396 at Falaise, a sow was convicted of murder most grim. The pig had eaten the face and arm of an infant boy in his cradle. After being convicted at trial, the sow was sentenced to public torture and execution for the crime, including an “eye for an eye” brand of justice – mutilation of her foreleg and face prior to the execution itself (Galeron, Brebisson & Desnoyers, 1826, p. 83). The task was carried out by the public executioner – no garden-variety livestock slaughterer – at the expense of the state (Langevin, 1814, p. 146). The executioner himself was afforded a new glove to perform his duty (D’Addosio, 1892, pp. 279; Evans, 1906, p. 140).1 The affair was presided over by the Viscount of Falaise, who would have projected a commanding presence in a plumed hat, on his horse, with his fist at his side,2 which we can only imagine was raised righteously.
Epidemiology of spinal cord injury in children and adolescents.

Objective: To describe the unique aspects of the epidemiology of pediatric-onset spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods: The characteristics of persans with SCI enrolled in either the Shriners Hospitals ...
Low-level avalanche multiplication in IGFETS

Results are presented for both theoretical and experimental analyses of low-level avalanche multiplication in an Insulated Gate Field-Effect Transistor (IGFET)
Evolution and the meaning of being: Heidegger, Jonas and Nihilism

Hans Jonas accuses Heidegger of “never bring[ing] his question about Being into correlation with the testimony of our physical and biological evolution.” Neither the early nor later Heidegger has a “philosophy of nature,” Jonas charges, because Naturphilosophie demands a new concept of matter, a monistic account of cosmogony and evolution, and the grounding of ethical responsibility for future generations in an ontological “first principle.” Jonas’s ontological rethinking of Darwinism allows him to overcome the nihilism that a mechanistic interpretation of evolution forces upon us: a nihilism allegedly shared by Heidegger. I imagine a Heideggerian response to Jonas, and ask whether the dream of recovering a synthesis between cosmogony and moral insight has been irrecoverably shattered by modern natural science.
An automated segmentation for direct assessment of adipose tissue distribution from thoracic and abdominal Dixon-technique MR images

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) together have become the gold standard in the precise quantification of body fat. The study of the quantification of fat in the human body has matured in recent years from a simplistic interest in the whole-body fat content to detailing regional fat distributions. The realization that body-fat, or adipose tissue (AT) is far from being a mere aggregate mass or deposit but a biologically active organ in and of itself, may play a role in the association between obesity and the various pathologies that are the biggest health issues of our time. Furthermore, a major bottleneck in most medical image assessments of adipose tissue content and distribution is the lack of automated image analysis. This motivated us to develop a proper and at least partially automated methodology to accurately and reproducibly determine both body fat content and distribution in the human body, which is to be applied to cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. The AT considered here is located beneath the skin (subcutaneous) as well as around the internal organs and between muscles (visceral and inter-muscular). There are also special fat depots on and around the heart (pericardial) as well as around the aorta (peri-aortic). Our methods focus on measuring and classifying these various AT deposits in the human body in an intervention study that involves the acquisition of thoracic and abdominal MR images via a Dixon technique.
An ultra-compact infinitely variable transmission for robotics

A novel infinitely variable transmission (IVT) is presented that has the potential to be an order of magnitude smaller than existing technologies leading to several potential applications in robotics (Fig. 1). Unlike more common continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), this transmission can reverse the direction of the output relative to the input without clutches or extra stages, affording new opportunities for energy savings or power bursts. This potentially enables its use across a broad range of mechanical energy conversion applications including robotics, transportation, and heavy industry, where it could dramatically increase total system efficiency. Its controllable impedance also makes it well suited to human-safe robotics and haptic feedback systems.
Perceptions of pain of laryngeal electromyography.

Objective To evaluate pain associated with laryngeal electromyography (LEMG). Study design A prospective case series. Methods Adult patients scheduled for LEMG in a tertiary care laryngology practice were recruited between July 20, 2016, and March 1, 2017. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from the charts. Study participants reported their anticipated pain level using a visual analog scale (VAS) prior to the procedure. VAS was administered again within 10 minutes after the procedure, along with the validated McGill Pain Questionnaire, to gauge patient's pain perception after undergoing LEMG. Results Results were reviewed for 80 patients (mean age 48.2 ± 16.6 years, 37.5% male). Preprocedure VAS pain scores (4.59 ± 2.3 out of 10) were not significantly different than postprocedure VAS pain scores (4.61 ± 2.4) (P = 0.95). The McGill Pain Questionnaire reported a moderate pain level (32.1 ± 12.7 out of 78). Females anticipated a higher preprocedure VAS pain score (5.04 ± 2.3) than males (3.85 ± 2.2) (P = 0.02); however, postprocedure scores were not significantly different between genders. The following factors did not influence the pain scores: age, professional voice use, history of previous EMG, chronic pain diagnosis, psychiatric diagnosis, or current treatment with pain/psychiatric medications. All LEMGs were completed without any complications. Conclusion Patients appropriately anticipated their pain levels for the LEMG, which may be attributed to proper patient education and counselling before the procedure. Overall pain levels were mild to moderate, and all LEMGs were completed; thus, LEMG was well tolerated. Level of evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 128:896-900, 2018.
Improved Motion Invariant Deblurring through Motion Estimation

We address the capture of sharp images of fast-moving objects, and build on the Motion Invariant photographic technique. The key advantage of motion invariance is that, unlike other computational photographic techniques, it does not require pre-exposure velocity estimation in order to ensure numerically stable deblurring. Its disadvantage is that the invariance is only approximate - objects moving with non-zero velocity will exhibit artifacts in the deblurred image related to tail clipping in the motion Point Spread Function (PSF). We model these artifacts as a convolution of the desired latent image with an error PSF, and demonstrate that the spatial scale of these artifacts corresponds to the object velocity. Surprisingly, despite the use of parabolic motion to capture an image in which blur is invariant to motion, we demonstrate that the motion invariant image can be used to estimate object motion post-capture. With real camera images, we demonstrate significant reductions in the artifacts by using the estimated motion for deblurring. We also quantify a 96% reduction in reconstruction error, relative to a floor established by exact PSF deconvolution, via simulation with a large test set of photographic images.
Bacon and Modern Physics: A Confrontation

The customary way to honor the memory of a great man is to single out his most meritorious contributions, the accomplishments that have made him famous, and to trace out their importance for our time. This is not the course I wish to follow, for it has always seemed to me that the errors of genius, the lack of foresight on the part of great men, are at least as interesting and often more revealing than their positive achievements. In Bacon’s case, it seems curiously true that the power of modern science and its tremendous pragmatic successes spring from its allegiance with Bacon’s teachings, and what we deplore in it, in its indomitability and in its apparent lack of relevance for the ethical aspirations of mankind, may owe their existence to an omission in Bacon’s understanding of scientific method which subsequent generations of scientists have been slow to discover.
35 – Gender Differences in the Sepsis Syndrome: Clinical Evidence and Potential Mechanisms

Sepsis is a common and lethal clinical syndrome, which will continue to grow in importance as the population ages. Its pathophysiology is complex, involving derangements and compensatory responses in the immune, endocrine and cardiovascular systems, among others. Host susceptibility is likely influenced by genomic polymorphisms that affect these derangements and responses. Epidemiologic and clinical studies suggest gender differences in the incidence, severity, and outcomes of sepsis. This data suggests that males are at a higher risk of sepsis and its complications. Studies suggest that females have superior immunologic, cardiovascular, and hormonal responses to stressful challenges like sepsis. Further research is necessary to determine whether the advantageous physiologic responses translate into important clinical differences. This will require well-designed prospective trials measuring both physiologic parameters and clinical outcomes in septic patients. If direct relationships between such physiologic measurements and outcome are confirmed, innovative therapies could then be designed to augment or suppress specific responses in a gender specific manner.
A Biologically-Inspired Distributed Intelligent Flocking Control for Networked Multi-UAS with Uncertain Network Imperfections

Distributed controllers connected through the shared wireless communication network are necessary in designing distributed flocking control schemes for Networked multi-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Network imperfections such as time delay, which has been considered as a challenging issue, commonly exists in the wireless network. Therefore, network imperfections should be taken into account in designing control algorithms for networked multi-UAS. Besides of network imperfections, the uncertainty from the complex environment and system dynamics is another critical challenge and cannot be ignored in advanced applicable control development. In this paper, a biologically-inspired distributed intelligent control methodology is proposed to overcome the challenges, i.e., networked imperfections and uncertainty from environment and system, in networked multi-UAS flocking. Considering the limited computational ability in the practical onboard controller, the proposed method is adopted based on the emotional learning phenomenon in the mammalian limbic system. The learning capability and low computational complexity of the proposed technique makes it a propitious tool for implementing in real-time networked multi-UAS flocking considering the network imperfection and uncertainty from environment and system. Computer-based numerical results of the implementation of the proposed methodology demonstrate the effectiveness of this algorithm for distributed intelligent flocking control of networked multi-UAS.
Water wire clusters in isostructural Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes: Synthesis, characterization, and thermal analyses

Abstract Hydrogen bonding (HB) interactions are well known to impact the properties of bulk water and within hydrated materials. Most notably, 1D water wires are involved in proton and water transport. Therefore, the design and synthesis of efficient proton conductors in terms of cost and performance are of great interest. In this work, isostructural Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes based on N,N'-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis(1-methyl-1H-imidazole-2-carboxamide) (H2L) have been synthesized and fully characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, spectroscopic methods, and thermal analysis. Both complexes crystalize in the monoclinic space group P21/c. The asymmetric unit of 1 and 2 contain two equivalents of CuL or NiL and four molecules of water of hydration. In the solid state packing of both complexes, the extended hydrogen bonding (HB) networks form 1D coiled zig-zag chains of water along the crystallographic b-axis. For both complexes, the identical ligand framework, coordination geometries, and solid state packing result in formation of similar HB expansion motifs, which result in analogous thermal stabilities and phase transitions at elevated temperature.
Quantitative phase gradient microscope based on multifunctional metasurfaces (Conference Presentation)

Quantitative phase imaging systems enable label-free imaging of transparent bio-samples. Miniaturization of these imaging systems will extend their potentials in biomedical and diagnostic applications. Here, we demonstrate a novel quantitative phase gradient microscope using two multifunctional metasurface layers. Thanks to the multi-functionality and compactness of the dielectric metasurfaces, the device simultaneously captures three differential interference contrast images to retrieve a quantitative phase gradient image in a single shot. Imaging experiments with diverse phase samples verify the capability to capture quantitative phase gradient data, with low noise levels and single cell resolution.
Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

ABSTRACT The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted the delivery of cellular therapeutics, including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. This impact has extended beyond patient care to include logistics, administration, and distribution of increasingly limited health care resources. Based on the collective experience of the CAR T-cell Consortium investigators, we review and address several questions and concerns regarding cellular therapy administration in the setting of COVID-19 and make general recommendations to address these issues. Specifically, we address (1) necessary resources for safe administration of cell therapies; (2) determinants of cell therapy utilization; (3) selection among patients with B cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas and B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia; (4) supportive measures during cell therapy administration; (5) use and prioritization of tocilizumab; and (6) collaborative care with referring physicians. These recommendations were carefully formulated with the understanding that resource allocation is of the utmost importance, and that the decision to proceed with CAR T cell therapy will require extensive discussion of potential risks and benefits. Although these recommendations are fluid, at this time it is our opinion that the COVID-19 pandemic should not serve as reason to defer CAR T cell therapy for patients truly in need of a potentially curative therapy.
Prevalence of Insulin Resistance in Adults Living with HIV: Implications of Alcohol Use.

Unhealthy alcohol use is prevalent among persons living with HIV (PLWH). Aging and increased survival of PLWH on antiretroviral therapy (ART) are complicated by metabolic dysregulation and increase...
Status, Growth, and Perceptions of School Quality:

States and districts are increasingly incorporating measures of achievement growth into their school accountability systems, but there is little research on how these changes affect the public’s pe...
Academic Agency: The Impact of Underlying Dispositions That Affect Teachers' Sense of Responsibility to Educate All Children in a Middle Grades Mathematics Classroom.

Based on the novel framework of Academic Agency, this study explored how a teacher's sense of efficacy, commitment, and knowledge influenced their overall sense of responsibility in instructing all children in the science of mathematics. This study employed a two-phase data collection process in which surveys, classroom interviews, and observations were used to examine practicing teacher's beliefs regarding efficacy, commitment, content knowledge, and responsibility. Pearson Correlation and Multiple Linear Regression were employed as analysis tools to identify the direction and strength of the relationships existing between variables. Findings suggest that there is a positive correlation between a teacher's sense of efficacy and their overall sense of responsibility and also a teacher's sense of efficacy and of mathematics teaching efficacy. The second phase of the study, participant interviews, and observations provided a more detailed look at how four purposefully selected educators enacted their articulated beliefs. Hour-long semi-structured interviews were conducted along with classroom observation. The qualitative data collected from the four individuals were analyzed using NVivo software. Based on recorded coding structures, individuals were placed into four predetermined categories ranging from Custodial Emphasis to Focused Academic Agent. Findings suggest that a sense of responsibility may be a factor in educational decisions.
What’s Hot in Literacy: New Topics and New Frontiers are Abuzz

The What’s Hot in 2019 survey was conducted to measure the amount of attention currently being given to literacy topics in research and practice. Twenty-five literacy leaders were surveyed; results...