cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
P150 A case of a shared epitope

A 69-year-old female Caucasian with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease awaiting lung transplant was assessed for her allosensitization status. FlowPRA assay demonstrated significant class II antibodies (0% Class I, 85% Class II) with a strong positive shift suggesting the presence of strong antibodies. In discordance, the single antigen bead (SAB) assay detected only weak Class II antibodies. Patient serum displayed a pan-DR antibody pattern characterized by top-ranking beads representing DR51- and DR52-associated HLA-antigens (550–2590 MFI). As part of our strategy to rule out inhibition, dilution studies were run resulting in a complete diminution of the antibodies observed and indicating absence of inhibition. One limitation of the SAB assay is the fact that it is a multiplex assay. In the presence of an antibody recognizing a target that is present on multiple beads (shared-epitopes), a bead-dependent “dilution” effect may be observed. This is an alarming scenario as the real strength of an antibody may be missed and the virtual crossmatch (vXM) may not accurately predict the results in a physical XM. However, this limitation can be circumvented by implementing rigorous analysis of specificity patterns and taking into account results from additional assays. In this particular case we chose to run a surrogate Flow cytometric XM (FCXM) to test whether the DR52-associated antigen stacking was a result of epitope-sharing and indicating that the resulting MFI values were an under-representation of much stronger reactivity. Surrogate FCXMs were run using two donors. Surrogate [A] was a DR52 homozygous donor (DR12,52) and surrogate [B] was a DR53 homozygous donor (DR4,7,53). The patient was typed as DR1,7,53. FCXM results for surrogate A showed negative T cell and very strong positive B cell, whereas surrogate B had a negative FCXM. This strong positive B cell result was “unexpected” based on the MFI values associated with the surrogate DR antigens in the SAB assay. Should a transplant have taken place solely based on vXM, the patient may have experienced an aggressive AMR response. This case highlights a limitation of reporting MFI values without rigorous analysis and potentially verifying SAB results by other methodologies. Additional routes to interrogate potential “epitope-sharing” will be discussed.
Effect of Loin Quality on Discoloration of Pork Chops During Retail Display

Pork chops from pale and soft loins were extremely susceptible to discoloration during retail display and had very limited retail caselife in comparison to chops from bright grayish-pink and firm loins. Pale and soft chops developed green discoloration on the second or third day of retail display. The green color of affected chops persisted through the interior of the longissimus muscle suggesting that physical or chemical changes, rather than bacterial growth, were responsible for the green pigmentation. Though the mechanism by which such discoloration occurs is not clear, it is apparent that some pale and soft loins react unfavorably to stress associated with storage, shipment, retail cutting, or display. Such loins should be identified at the time of carcass cutting, segregated and directed to an end-use or market outlet which does not necessitate retail display as a fresh product.
Artifacts Resembling Seizures

One of the greatest challenges in the evaluation and interpretation of EEG data is distinguishing between signals generated from the cerebral cortex and signals generated from extracerebral sources. In EEG, the term “artifact” can refer to any electrical potential that is recorded on an EEG but which does not originate in the brain. Artifacts can be both physiologic (i.e., originating within the patient’s body but not within the brain) and nonphysiologic (i.e., originating from areas outside the patient’s body).
Manifesting the Cyborg via Techno Body Modification: From Human Computer Interaction to Integration

Over the past decade, a community of DIY cyborgs has emerged, dubbed grinders, who implant and embed computing technology into their bodies. As technologies are hacked, (re)designed, and self-embedded in the body, the boundary between human and machine starts to blur. This research project explores the role of the body in interacting with these tools, what it means to design for integration, and what social and cultural implications emerge.
Understanding sources of individual variability in parents’ number talk with young children

Several studies suggest that parents' use of number words while talking with their children is positively related to children's understanding of certain mathematical concepts. In this study, we extended these findings and further examined several parent characteristics that could be related to individual differences in their number talk, including their subjective ratings of their math skills, preference for using math, beliefs about the importance of their children's math skills, and numerical approximation abilities, an early number skill present in children and adults. A sample of 44 5- and 6-year-old children and their parents completed a variety of laboratory-based tasks, including a 10-min free play session to assess number talk, a standardized math assessment for children, a nonsymbolic numerical comparison task for parents, and several questionnaires for parents. Parents' overall number talk was not related to children's performance on the math assessment; however, parents' use of numbers larger than 10 was positively and significantly related to children's math abilities even when controlling for parents' overall talk. Parents' large number talk was also associated with their numerical approximation abilities and subjective math ability, suggesting that math-specific characteristics of parents themselves can explain some of the individual variability in parents' use of number words, especially those larger than 10.
Ethnic-Racial Identity and Friendships in Early Adolescence.

The current study examined how adolescents' ethnic-racial identity (ERI) informed the demographic diversity of their friendship network (Goal 1) and the extent of similarity between adolescents' and their friends' ERI (Goal 2). Participants were sixth and seventh grade students (N = 353; Mage = 11.88, SD = .73; 50% girls; 29% African American, 31% White, 13% Latino) in the Midwestern U.S. Results from longitudinal cross-lagged models (Goal 1) indicated that having more diverse friendships at T2 was associated with greater T3 ERI exploration among all youth. In addition, boys who reported higher ERI resolution at T1 had more diverse friendships at T2. Furthermore, findings from longitudinal social network analyses (SNA; Goal 2) suggested that influence drove similarity between adolescents and their friends in ERI exploration and resolution.
A fresnoite-structure-related mixed valent titanium(III/IV) chlorosilicate, Ba3Ti2Si4O14Cl: A flux crystal growth route to Ti(III) containing oxides

Abstract Single crystals of mixed valent barium titanium(III/IV) chlorosilicate, Ba3Ti2Si4O14Cl0.91O0.09, were grown in a high temperature molten chloride flux involving an in situ reduction step. The fresnoite structure related Ba3Ti2Si4O14Cl0.91O0.09 crystallizes in the tetragonal space group P4/mbm with lattice parameters of a=8.6717(2) A, c=18.6492(5) A. The title compound exhibits a 3D structure consisting of 2D layers of fused Ti2O9 and Si4O12 groups and 2D layers of fused Ti2O9Cl2 and Si2O7 groups that are linked via barium atoms. The in situ reduction of Ti(IV) to Ti(III) is achieved via the addition of metallic Mg to the flux to function as the reducing agent. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility shows simple paramagnetism above 100 K. There is a discontinuity in the susceptibility data below 100 K, which might be due to a structural change that takes place resulting in charge ordering.
Postsocialist politics and the ends of revolution

The introduction to this special issue offers a theorization of postsocialism as an analytic that connects the ‘afters’ of the capitalist–socialist dynamic to think about how political action need not take shape in ways that are familiar as revolutionary, or oppositional. We argue that postsocialism marks a queer temporality, one that does not reproduce its social order even as its revolutionary antithesis. Resisting the revolutionary teleology of what was before, postsocialism creates space to work through ongoing legacies of socialisms in the present. Secondly, we assert the need for pluralizing postsocialisms as a method, which brings to the fore current practices, imaginaries, and actions that insist on political change at a variety of scales, including local, state, and transnational ones. Pluralizing postsocialisms as a method and considering it necessary for analysis of a global postsocialist condition can provide a crucial analytic through which to assess ongoing socialist legacies in new ...
SIMULATION-BASED OPTIMIZATION FOR NONLINEAR OPTIMAL CONTROL

Abstract Optimal control of systems with complex nonlinear behaviour such as steady state multiplicity results in a nonlinear optimization problem that needs to be solved online at each sample time. We present an approach based on simulation, function approximation and evolutionary improvement aimed towards simplifying online optimization. Closed loop data from a suboptimal control law, such as MPC based on successive linearization, is used to obtain an approximation of the 'cost-to-go' function, which is subsequently improved through iterations of the Bellman equation. Using this offline-computed cost approximation, an infinite horizon problem is converted to an equivalent single stage problem — substantially reducing the computational burden. This approach is tested on continuous culture of microbes growing on a nutrient medium containing two substrates that exhibits steady state multiplicity. Extrapolation of the cost-to-go function approximator can lead to deterioration of online performance. Some remedies to prevent such problems caused by extrapolation are proposed.
Two Short Case Studies in Staff Auditor and Student Ethical Decision Making

ABSTRACT: Two cases help students identify the influence that self-interest can have on ethical decision making and encourage them to practice “giving voice to values.” The learning objectives are to: (1) increase student awareness of the role of ethical fading in unethical decision making; (2) develop critical-thinking skills for ethical decision making; and (3) practice applying moral imagination to resolve ethical dilemmas. Specifically, we designed these case scenarios to develop skills in recognizing and resolving ethical dilemmas. Post-case survey responses indicate that beyond meeting the learning objectives, students personally relate to the protagonists. The cases are appropriate for graduate or undergraduate accounting courses, including capstone accounting courses, in which ethics, auditing, forensic accounting, and/or the professional code of conduct are discussed. Implementation guidance and Teaching Notes are provided to aid instructors seeking to motivate in-class discussions of the current...
Brief Report: How Accurate is Teacher Report of Autism Symptoms Compared to Parent Report?

The Checklist for Autism Spectrum Disorder (CASD) completed by a psychologist (following standardized procedures integrating parent interview data, teacher report, and clinical observations) was compared with the CASD completed independently by mothers and teachers in 168 children with ASD and 40 with ADHD (1–12 years). The 30 CASD autism symptoms are scored as present or absent. Using mother scores 36% of children with ASD scored below the autism diagnostic cutoff, and 75% scored below the cutoff based on teacher scores. Many symptoms deemed present by the psychologist were not reported on the mother and teacher CASD. Mother-teacher correlations indicated little correspondence. Mother and teacher CASD scores should never be used alone. Diagnostic instruments must be administered following standardized procedures.
Characteristics of Reading Disability Types in Middle School Students Classified ED

Types of reading disabilities (RD) have not yet been investigated in students classified with emotional disturbance (ED). The prevalence of RD and differentiating characteristics were examined in 1...
Recombinant hematopoietic growth factors in bone marrow transplantation.

Hematopoietic growth factors are naturally occurring glycoproteins that stimulate the proliferation of hematopoietic cells [1–3]. Initial discovery of hematopoietic growth factors was based on proliferative activity identified by in vitro assay systems. Erythropoietin (EPO) stimulates erythrocyte maturation, granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) stimulates neutrophil proliferation, and granulocyte-macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) stimulates neutrophil, monocyte, and macrophage proliferation. These three recombinant cytokines have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical use and have been and are being evaluated in patients undergoing bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.
Neural Network Applications to Solve Forward and Inverse Problems in Atmospheric and Oceanic Satellite Remote Sensing

Vladimir M. Krasnopolsky (*) Science Application International Company at Environmental Modeling Center, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Camp Springs, Maryland, USA Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, EMC/NCEP/NOAA, 5200 Auth Rd., Camp Springs, MD 20746, USA Phone: 301-763-8000 ext. 7262; fax 301-763-8545; email: vladimir.krasnopolsky@noaa.gov also presented in Chapter 10 by G. Yung. These applications and those that we discuss in Chapter 11, from the mathematical point of view, belong to the broad class of applications called approximation of mappings. A particular type of the NN, a Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) NN (Rumelhart et al. 1986) is usually employed to approximate mappings. We will start by introducing a remote sensing, mapping, and NN background.
Persönlichkeitsstörungen und Hirnschädigung: Praktische Überlegungen

In der neuropsychologischen Rehabilitation ist die Berucksichtigung der Personlichkeit des Patienten von entscheidender Bedeutung. Storungen der Personlichkeit konnen sowohl fur das Rehabilitationsteam (Prigatano et al. 1986) als auch fur die Angehorigen (Brooks McKinlay 1983) eine erhebliche Belastung darstellen.
Bio-optical discrimination of diatoms from other phytoplankton in the surface ocean: Evaluation and refinement of a model for the Northwest Atlantic

Abstract Diatoms dominate global silica production and export production in the ocean; they form the base of productive food webs and fisheries. Thus, a remote sensing algorithm to identify diatoms has great potential to describe ecological and biogeochemical trends and fluctuations in the surface ocean. Despite the importance of detecting diatoms from remote sensing and the demand for reliable methods of diatom identification, there has not been a systematic evaluation of algorithms that are being applied to this end. The efficacy of these models remains difficult to constrain in part due to limited datasets for validation. In this study, we test a bio-optical algorithm developed by Sathyendranath et al. (2004) to identify diatom dominance from the relationship between ratios of remote sensing reflectance and chlorophyll concentration. We evaluate and refine the original model with data collected at the Martha's Vineyard Coastal Observatory (MVCO), a near-shore location on the New England shelf. We then validated the refined model with data collected in Harpswell Sound, Maine, a site with greater optical complexity than MVCO. At both sites, despite relatively large changes in diatom fraction (0.8–82% of chlorophyll concentration), the magnitude of variability in optical properties due to the dominance or non-dominance of diatoms is less than the variability induced by other absorbing and scattering constituents of the water. While the original model performance was improved through successive re-parameterizations and re-formulations of the absorption and backscattering coefficients, we show that even a model originally parameterized for the Northwest Atlantic and re-parameterized for sites such as MVCO and Harpswell Sound performs poorly in discriminating diatom-dominance from optical properties.
Lecanora caperatica (Lecanoraceae, lichenized ascomycetes) a new sorediate species widespread in eastern North America

Lecanora caperatica is described based on collections from throughout temperate eastern North America. It is a crustose sorediate species in the L. subfusca group which has pulcaris-type apothecia, and produces atranorin and caperatic acid often with accessory roccellic/angardianic acid. The species is chemically similar to the European L. mughosphagneti, which differs in ecology, thallus morphology and in having albella-type apothecia. The generic placement of L. caperatica, and its affinity to the L. subfusca group, are confirmed by molecular phylogenetic analysis.
Identification of Medical Child Abuse

Purpose: The diagnosis of Medical Child Abuse (MCA), formerly Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, has become increasingly prevalent in this era of modern medicine, most notably in tertiary and quaternary care centers. Clinicians in increasingly siloed, subspecialized referral settings are the most likely to encounter and thus consider rare or atypical diagnoses. In the pediatric physician-patient relationship, physicians are trained to trust a patient’s caretaker to provide an accurate history, opening the door for caregivers to abuse their own innate credibility as well as the practitioner’s trust to …
Association Between Patient Cost Sharing and Cardiac Rehabilitation Adherence.

Abstract Objective To determine the association between cost sharing and adherence to cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Patients and Methods We collected detailed cost-sharing information for patients enrolled in CR at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, including the presence (or absence) and amounts of co-pays and deductibles. We evaluated the association between cost sharing and the total number of CR sessions attended as well as the influence of household income on CR attendance. Results In 2015, 603 patients enrolled in CR had complete cost-sharing information. In total, 235 (39%) had some form of cost sharing. Of these, 192 (82%) had co-pays (median co-pay, $20; interquartile range [IQR], $10-$32) and 79 (34%) had an unmet deductible (median, $500; IQR, $250-$1800). The presence of any amount or form of cost sharing was associated with 6 fewer sessions of CR (16; IQR, 4-36 vs 10; IQR, 4-27; P Conclusion Cost sharing was associated with lower CR attendance and exhibited a dose-response relationship such that higher cost sharing was associated with lower CR attendance. Given that CR is cost-effective and underutilized, insurance companies and other payers should reevaluate their cost-sharing policies for CR.
Good Questions 11: Where are governments’ plans for dealing with food system disruptions?

In April 2020, when most businesses in the United States were shut down because of Covid-19, many people became unemployed and their incomes vanished. They lined up at the charitable food banks in their neighborhoods, but the shelves were quickly emptied. At the same time, many large farms buried their crops because the restaurants and hotels they served had closed. Some news agencies said the obvious solution was for government to organize transport of those farms’ produce to food banks or to idle restaurants for distribution to people in need. Only the federal government could make that work at a large scale, perhaps with the help of the National Guard and the U.S. army’s logistic capacities. It didn’t happen. Where are governments’ plans for dealing with food system disruptions, in the US and throughout the world?
Cell signaling model for arterial mechanobiology

Arterial growth and remodeling at the tissue level is driven by mechanobiological processes at cellular and sub-cellular levels. Although it is widely accepted that cells seek to promote tissue homeostasis in response to biochemical and biomechanical cues-such as increased wall stress in hypertension-the ways by which these cues translate into tissue maintenance, adaptation, or maladaptation are far from understood. In this paper, we present a logic-based computational model for cell signaling within the arterial wall, aiming to predict changes in extracellular matrix turnover and cell phenotype in response to pressure-induced wall stress, flow-induced wall shear stress, and exogenous sources of angiotensin II, with particular interest in mouse models of hypertension. We simulate a number of experiments from the literature at both the cell and tissue level, involving single or combined inputs, and achieve high qualitative agreement in most cases. Additionally, we demonstrate the utility of this modeling approach for simulating alterations (in this case knockdowns) of individual nodes within the signaling network. Continued modeling of cellular signaling will enable improved mechanistic understanding of arterial growth and remodeling in health and disease, and will be crucial when considering potential pharmacological interventions.
Electromagnetic Compatibility Considerations for International Space Station Payload Developers

The International Space Station (ISS) is a laboratory for scientific research, innovative technology development, and global education. The ISS provides a number of facilities and platforms for payload developers and investigators to conduct biological, microgravity, and Earth and space observation science, as well as for performing technology development. Due to the unique nature of the ISS vehicle and its electrical power and data systems, achieving electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) with the vehicle requires special considerations by the payload developer. The ISS electromagnetic interference (EMI) requirements and test methods are based on MIL-STD-461, “Electromagnetic Emissions and Susceptibility Requirements for the Control of Electromagnetic Interference”, Revision C, and MIL-STD-462, “Electromagnetic Interference Characteristics, Measurement of,” respectively. The low source impedance of the test setup requires special considerations when designing or selecting EMI power filters and switched mode power supplies. Many filters, suited for later revisions of MIL-STD-461, will result in non-compliant designs. ISS electrical power system power quality requirements, imposed to protect the stability of the system, can also affect EMI filter design. The selection and use of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment for ISS applications requires special considerations to meet both EMC and crew safety requirements. Furthermore, the ISS environment can provide unique immunity challenges; if the payload developer ignores these challenges, the result is a possible loss of science or impact to technology demonstration. The ISS provides a unique opportunity for the science and technology development community. However, in order to be successful, the payload developer must incorporate special EMC considerations, many of which will be presented.
Leadership Learning Partnerships: Self‐Authored Leadership through the Learning Partnerships Model

In this chapter, the author folds the learning partnerships model into leadership learning experiences for students' self-authored leadership and offers practical guidance for leadership educators seeking to develop leaders who are authentically empowered agents of change.
Outcomes of COVID-19 in Patients With Cancer: A Closer Look at Pre-Emptive Routine Screening Strategies.

PURPOSE:The benefit of routine pre-emptive screening for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections in patients with cancer before cancer-directed therapies is unclear. Herein, we c...
Developmental chronodisruption alters placental signaling in mice

Chronodisruption has been largely overlooked as a developmental exposure. The placenta, a conduit between the maternal and fetal environments, may relay circadian cues to the fetus. We have previously shown that developmental chronodisruption causes visual impairment and increased retinal microglial and macrophage marker expression. Here, we investigated the impacts of environmental chronodisruption on fetal and placental outcomes in a C57BL/6J mouse (Mus musculus) model. Developmental chronodisruption had no effect on embryo count, placental weight, or fetal sex ratio. When measured with RNAseq, mice exposed to developmental chronodisruption (CD) had differential placental expression of several transcripts including Serpinf1, which encodes pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF). Immunofluorescence of microglia/macrophage markers, Iba1 and CD11b, also revealed significant upregulation of immune cell markers in CD-exposed placenta. Our results suggest that in utero chronodisruption enhances placental immune cell expression, potentially programming a pro-inflammatory tissue environment.
Profiling MAP kinase cysteines for targeted covalent inhibitor design

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) are important therapeutic targets, and yet no inhibitors have advanced to the market. Here we applied the GPU-accelerated continuous constant pH molecular dynamics (CpHMD) to calculate the pKa's and profile the cysteine reactivities of all 14 MAPKs for assisting the targeted covalent inhibitor design. The simulations not only recapitulated but also rationalized the reactive cysteines in the front pocket of JNK1/2/3 and the extended front pocket of p38α. Interestingly, the DFG − 1 cysteine in the DFG-in conformation of ERK1/ERK2 was found somewhat reactive or unreactive; however, simulations of MKK7 showed that switching to the DFG-out conformation makes the DFG − 1 cysteine reactive, suggesting the advantage of type II covalent inhibitors. Additionally, the simulations prospectively predicted several druggable cysteine and lysine sites, including the αH head cysteine in JNK1/3 and DFG + 6 cysteine in JNK2, corroborating the chemical proteomic screening data. Given the low cost and the ability to offer physics-based rationales, we envision CpHMD simulations to complement the chemo-proteomic platform for systematic profiling cysteine reactivities for targeted covalent drug discovery.
Buddhist Connections in the Indian Ocean: Changes in Monastic Mobility, 1000-1500

Since the nineteenth century, Buddhists residing in the present-day nations of Myanmar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka have thought of themselves as participants in a shared southern Asian Buddhist world characterized by a long and continuous history of integration across the Bay of Bengal region, dating at least to the third century bcereign of the Indic King Asoka. Recently, scholars of Buddhism and historians of the region have begun to develop a more historically variegated account of Buddhism in South and Southeast Asia, using epigraphic, art historical, and archaeological evidence, as well as new interpretations of Buddhist chronicle texts. 1 This paper examines three historical episodes in the eleventh- to fifteenth-century history of Sri Lankan-Southeast Asian Buddhist connections attested by epigraphic and Buddhist chronicle accounts. These indicate changes in regional Buddhist monastic connectivity during the period 1000-1500, which were due to new patterns of mobility related to changing conditions of trade and to an altered political ecosystem in maritime southern Asia.
Isolation and Charcterization of the Protein and cDNA For β2-Glycoprotein I (Apolipoprotein H)

Abstract β2-Glycoprotein I (β2I) is a plasma glycoprotein with a normal concentration near 0.2 mg/ml. It is a component of circulating plasma lipoproteins, enhances triglyceride clearance, binds to platelets, and activates lipoprotein lipase. Since β2I fulfills the criteria of apolipoproteins, it is also called apolipoprotein-H (Apo H) We attempted screening an expression library using commercial antisera to clone a β2I insert which would be used to conduct expression studies using hepatocytes and hepatoma cell lines. Screening up to 106 plaques revealed a low number of weakly positive clones. Sanger dideoxy sequencing demonstrated that their sequence did not translate into the known protein sequence of β2I. The antisera demonstrated a good titer and monospecificity to serum β2I, but recognized only nonreduced and completely failed to recognize reduced serum β2I upon Western blot analysis We therefore designed a two step protocol for the isolation of β2I from human serum using pseudo-ligand affinity chromatography and nonreducing preparative SDS-PAGE. The electo-eluted β2I was then reduced and used to immunize a rabbit. The antiserum produced was monospecific and reacted with both reduced and nonreduced β2I. It was able to unambiguously detect several positive clones upon rescreening of the same library. This demonstrates that eukaryotic proteins may undergo important changes in tertiary structure when expressed in prokaryotic systems and that in this case it was advantageous to produce antisera to the denatured protein
Use of Characteristic Roots for Solving Infinite State Markov Chains

In this chapter, our interest is in determining the stationary distribution of an irreducible positive recurrent Markov chain with an infinite state space. In particular, we consider the solution of such chains using roots or zeros. A root of an equation f (z) = 0 is a zero of the function f (z),and so for notational convenience we use the terms root and zero interchangeably. A natural class of chains that can be solved using roots are those with a transition matrix that has an almost Toeplitz structure. Specifically, the classes of M/G/1 type chains and G/M/1 type chains lend themselves to solution methods that utilize roots. In the M/G/1 case, it is natural to transform the stationary equations and solve for the stationary distribution using generating functions. However, in the G/M/1 case the stationary probability vector itself is given directly in terms of roots or zeros. Although our focus in this chapter is on the discrete-time case, we will show how the continuous-time case can be handled by the same techniques. The M/G/1 and G/M/1 classes can be solved using the matrix analytic method [Neuts, 1981, Neuts, 1989], and we will also discuss the relationship between the approach using roots and this method.
Chapter 2 Computation of equilibria in finite games

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of the latest state of the art of methods for numerical computation of Nash equilibria —and refinements of Nash equilibria —for general finite n-person games. The appropriate method for computing Nash equilibria for a game depends on a number of factors. The first and most important factor involves, whether it is required to simply find one equilibrium (a sample equilibrium), or find all equilibria. The problem of finding one equilibrium is a well studied problem, and there exist number of different methods for numerically computing a sample equilibrium. The problem of finding all equilibria has been addressed recently. While, there exist methods for computation of all equilibria, they are computationally intensive. With current methods, they are only feasible on small problems. The chapter overviews methods for computing sample equilibria in normal form games, and discusses the computation of equilibria on extensive form games.
Plant wound signals and translation.

In Nature, plants are subjected to wound stress by biotic agents such as large herbivores, insects, and fungi and abiotic agents such as hail and wind. Wound stress caused by such agents may be complicated by other factors such as loss of photosynthetic tissue, production of elicitors especially fragments cleaved from host or pathogen cell walls, inoculation with viruses; the role of wounding as a stress in its own right is rarely considered.
Bacteriophage T7 gene 4 protein: A hexameric DNA helicase

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the purification and physical properties of the T7 gene 4 proteins; the catalytic properties and substrate specificities of the enzyme; the proposed models of energy transduction; and the future directions of research. The initial purification procedure described in the chapter for the gene 4 protein used E. coli cells infected with bacteriophage T7 3,5,6 , which lacked endonuclease, polymerase, and exonuclease activities. The purification procedure consists of six steps, including extract preparation, the precipitation of gene 4 proteins, and multiple-column purifications. Subsequently, T7 ligase, for still unknown reasons, has been found to be a major contaminant such that it is necessary to infect cells with T7 3,5,6 , lig . T7 gene 4 proteins, purified from phage-infected cells, consist of a mixture of a 63 and a 56 kDa species because of an internal start codon near the 5'-end of the gene. The two gene 4 proteins are present in equimolar amounts in T7-infected cells as determined by the labeling of the proteins expressed during T7 infection. The two species are partially resolved by phosphocellulose chromatography, and a 100-fold enrichment for the 56 kDa protein can be achieved by hydroxylapatite chromatography.
From Los Angeles to Shanghai: Testing the Applicability of Five Urban Paradigms

This article gauges the applicability of five urban paradigms derived from the urban experience of the Western world, especially from that of Los Angeles, to the urban realities of an East Asian city: Shanghai, China. The five metaphors - world city, cyber city, dual city, hybrid city and sustainable city - are each examined against Shanghai's urban context. The findings are that for Shanghai, and probably other East Asian cities, world city can be modified to mega city or globalizing city to denote a process of becoming; cyber city is more applicable to the physical networks connecting people, goods and information, although a ubiquitous virtual space is also emerging; a dual city and social segmentation exist on three scales: intra-urban, local-global, and local-national; the hybrid city and sustainable city have been less of a concern in the past, but are gaining importance. Finally, given the significant role governments play in these cities, the notion of the developmentalist state is introduced. This broadened urban framework explicitly takes into account urban experiences in the East Asian context, and further extends the scope of comparative urban theorization and analysis, both spatially and temporally beyond the Western world.
Application of Plasmid DNA Encoding IL-18 Diminishes Development of Herpetic Stromal Keratitis by Antiangiogenic Effects

HSV-1 infection of the eye can cause a blinding immunoinflammatory stromal keratitis (SK) lesion. Using the mouse model, we have demonstrated that angiogenesis is an essential step in lesion pathogenesis because its inhibition results in diminished severity. The molecules involved in causing corneal angiogenesis are multiple and include the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family of proteins. In this report we show that application of plasmid DNA encoding IL-18 to the cornea of mice before HSV-1 ocular infection resulted in reduced angiogenesis and diminished SK immunoinflammatory lesions. The antiangiogenic effects of IL-18 treatment appeared to be mediated by inhibition of VEGF production in the cornea. We also showed that IL-18 controlled VEGF expression in vitro and also decreased CpG oligodeoxynucleotide induced VEGF-dependent neovascularization. In addition the administration of IL-18-binding protein, an IL-18 antagonist, into the inflammatory eye resulted in elevated angiogenesis and increased VEGF expression. Our results indicate that IL-18 is an important endogenous negative regulator of HSV-induced angiogenesis resulting in reduced SK lesion severity. Our results could mean that IL-18 administration may represent a useful approach to manage unwanted angiogenesis.
Web-based Instruction for Education Faculty: A Needs Assessment

AbstractResearch on organizational behavior has shown that the success or failure of an innovation rests ultimately on the people who implement it. This study was a systematic assessment of faculty needs for the incorporation of Web-based instruction into the teacher education curriculum. The needs assessment model involved defining optimal performance, assessing actual practice, and identifying the gap separating the two. The purpose of the study was to understand the technological and pedagogical requirements necessary to prepare education faculty for the paradigm shift envisioned by leading educators and driven by information technology. It took an in-depth look at exemplary practices in the field, such as the Curry School of Education, University of Virginia, the recipient of 1998 AACTE Best Practice Award in Systemic Change in Technology.
Availability of Broadband Internet Access: Emperical Evidence

Broadband access is needed for the Internet to achieve its full potential, and how these services are offered is likely to have important implications for the extent of competition for communication services in the last mile. This paper describes a research project of the MIT Internet & Telecoms Convergence Consortium (ITC) into local Internet access and presents initial results from our empirical survey of the patterns of deployment for broadband Internet access in the United States, focusing on xDSL and cable modems as the two technologies that have been deployed most extensively to date. We were unable to find much evidence of residential xDSL deployments through the end of 1998; however, we did identify over 805 communities where cable modem services are now available. The demographics of these communities suggest that to date that these services are still not widely available, and where available, are concentrated in higher income, higher density markets -- as might be expected for a new technology. Moreover, when broadband access is available, consumers are unlikely to face competitive alternatives for providers. And, finally, the identity of the cable television provider has had an important impact on the likelihood that cable modems will be available. We suspect this result reflects differences in strategic decisions based on differing views of the attractiveness of broadband services and earlier decisions on the timing and extent of system upgrades. For example, MediaOne has been substantially more aggressive in deploying cable modem services than have carriers with typically lower-quality outside plant, such as Cablevision and TCI. While these results are not surprising, they are nevertheless important in helping to establish a baseline for continued research and in suggesting additional data requirements and questions that need to be examined to more fully understand the evolution of Internet access. In addition to the empirical data presented, we describe our future research agenda.
Magnetic Field Independence of the Spin Gap in YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ

We report, for magnetic fields of 0, 8.8, and 14.8thinspthinspT, measurements of the temperature dependent {sup 63}Cu NMR spin lattice relaxation rate for near optimally doped YBa{sub 2}Cu {sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{delta}} , near and above T{sub c} . In sharp contrast with previous work we find no magnetic field dependence. We discuss experimental issues arising in measurements of this required precision and implications of the experiment regarding issues including the spin gap or pseudogap. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
Compiler-Controlled Multithreading for Lenient Parallel Languages

Tolerance to communication latency and inexpensive synchronization are critical for general-purpose computing on large multiprocessors. Fast dynamic scheduling is required for powerful non-strict parallel languages. However, machines that support rapid switching between multiple execution threads remain a design challenge. This paper explores how multithreaded execution can be addressed as a compilation problem, to achieve switching rates approaching what hardware mechanisms might provide. Compiler-controlled multithreading is examined through compilation of a lenient parallel language, Id90, for a threaded abstract machine, TAM. A key feature of TAM is that synchronization is explicit and occurs only at the start of a thread, so that a simple cost model can be applied. A scheduling hierarchy allows the compiler to schedule logically related threads closely together in time and to use registers across threads. Remote communication is via message sends and split-phase memory accesses. Messages and memory replies are received by compiler-generated message handlers which rapidly integrate these events with thread scheduling. To compile Id90for TAM, we employ a new parallel intermediate form, dual-graphs, with distinct control and data arcs. This provides a clean framework for partitioning the program into threads, scheduling threads, and managing registers under asynchronous execution. The compilation process is described and preliminary measurements show that the cost of compiler-controlled multithreading is within a small factor of the cost of control flow in sequential languages.
Ultrasonographic Median Nerve Changes After Repeated Wheelchair Transfers in Persons With Paraplegia: Relationship With Subject Characteristics and Transfer Skills.

Abstract Background Wheelchair users with spinal cord injuries are susceptible to peripheral neuropathies from overuse, yet no studies have established a relationship between median neuropathy and wheelchair transfers. A more thorough understanding of how transfers and technique contribute to pathologic conditions may guide interventions that curtail its development. Objective To evaluate the effects of repeated transfers on ultrasound markers for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in people with spinal cord injuries and to relate changes to subject characteristics and transfer skills. Design Cross-sectional, repeated measures. Setting Research laboratory and national wheelchair sporting events. Participants A convenience sample of 30 wheelchair users with nonprogressive paraplegia were recruited via research registries and at the 2013 National Veterans Wheelchair Games and 2014 Paralyzed Veterans of America Buckeye Games. Participants were older than 18 years and could complete transfers independently within 30 seconds without use of their leg muscles. Methods Demographic questionnaires and physical examinations for CTS were completed. Quantitative ultrasound techniques were used to measure changes in the median nerve after a repeated-transfers protocol. The Transfer Assessment Instrument (TAI) was completed to quantify transfer ability. Main Outcome Measurements Median nerve cross-sectional area at the level of the pisiform (PCSA) and swelling ratio (SR), transfer quality, and skills via the TAI. Results PCSA increased after repeated transfers ( P P P P Conclusions An acute increase was observed in median nerve CSA at the pisiform after repeated wheelchair transfers. Changes were greater in persons with higher body weight and in persons who did not perform certain transfer skills correctly (according to the TAI). It is possible that these factors contribute to chronic injury and possibly CTS.
Rotational wavepacket revivals for phase modulation of ultrafast pulses: high intensity effects

Phase modulation of ultrafast laser pulses has been demonstrated recently by taking advantage of the time-dependent refractive index that takes place during rotational wave packet revivals in a gaseous sample [Phys. Rev. Lett. 88 (2002) 013903]. Here we explore the effect of laser intensity, physical properties of molecules, and temperature on rotational wavepacket revivals by femtosecond transient grating spectroscopy. Theoretical analysis of experimental data is used to predict the optimum conditions for the phase modulation and compression of ultrafast laser pulses.
Changing from Production to Quality: Application of the Situational Leadership and Transtheoretical Change Models

This article addresses the problem of how to diffuse responsibility for quality throughout the organization. Central to this challenge is the need to shift the employee mindset and behavior away fr...
Pre-screen projection: from concept to testing of a new interaction technique

Pre-screen projection is a new interaction technique that allows a user to pan and zoom integrally through a scene simply by moving his or her head relative to the screen. The underlying concept is based on real-world visual perception, namely, the fact that a person’s view changes as the head moves. Pre-screen projection tracks a user’s head in three dimensions and alters the display on the screen relative to head position, giving a natural perspective effect in response to a user’s head movements. Specifically, projection of a virtual scene is calculated as if the scene were in front of the screen. As a result, the visible scene displayed on the physical screen expands (zooms) dramatically as a user moves nearer. This is analogous to the real world, where the nearer an object is, the more rapidly it visually expands as a person moves toward it. Further, with pre-screen projection a user can navigate (pan and zoom) around a scene integrally, as one unified activity, rather than performing panning and zooming as separate tasks. This paper describes the technique, the real-world metaphor on which it is conceptually based, issues involved in iterative development of the technique, and our approach to its empirical evaluation in a realistic application testbed.
The Galeta Oil Spill. II. Unexpected Persistence of Oil Trapped in Mangrove Sediments

Abstract Sediment chemistry studies, undertaken as part of the long-term assessment of the Bahia las Minas (Panama) oil spill, showed the unexpected persistence of the full range of aromatic hydrocarbon residues of the spilled crude oil in anoxic muds of coastal mangroves. Mangrove muds served as long-term reservoirs for chronic contamination of contiguous coastal communities for over 5 years. One result of the repeated history of oil pollution incidents along this coast was an increased proportion of dead mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) roots in sediment cores which was related to contaminant loading and was detectable for at least 20 years after major oil spills. We suggest that this is the minimum time-scale that is to be expected for the loss of toxicity of oil trapped in muddy coastal habitats impacted by catastrophic oil spills.
Abdominal adiposity depots are correlates of adverse cardiometabolic risk factors in Caucasian and African-American adults.

Abdominal adiposity depots are correlates of adverse cardiometabolic risk factors in Caucasian and African-American adults
ICU nurse-to-patient ratio is associated with complications and resource use after esophagectomy

Objective: To determine if having a night-time nurse-to-patient ratio (NNPR) of one nurse caring for one or two patients (>1:2) versus one nurse caring for three or more patients ( 1:2;128 patients in 23 hospitals had a NNPR <1:2. No significant association between NNPR and in-hospital mortality was seen. A 39% increase in median in-hospital LOS (4.3 days; 95%CI, (2, 5 days); p<0.001), and a 32% increase in costs ($4,810; 95% CI, ($2,094, $7,952) was associated with a NNPR <1:2. Pneumonia (OR 2.4; 95% CI (1.2, 4.7); p=0.012), reintubation (OR 2.6; 95% CI(1.4, 4.5); p=0.001), and septicemia (OR 3.6; 95% CI(1.1, 12.5); p=0.04), were specific complications associated with a NNPR <1:2. Conclusions: A nurse caring for more than two ICU patients at night increases the risk of several postoperative pulmonary and infectious complications and was associated with increased resource use in patients undergoing esophageal resection.