cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microstructure, mechanical properties, and ionic conductivity of a solid-state electrolyte prepared using binderless laser powder bed fusion

Manipulating the microstructure of the glass–ceramic solid-state electrolyte Li1+xAlxTi2-x(PO4)3 (LATP) improves performance by enhancing ionic conductivity; however, conventional glass–ceramic processing requires multiple processing steps to successfully develop the microstructure. Laser-based additive manufacturing techniques, such as laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF), offer a novel approach to single-step fabrication of glass–ceramics for battery applications. Here, we investigate the influence of L-PBF processing on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and ionic conductivity of LATP. This study demonstrates that binderless L-PBF produces relatively dense LATP samples (up to ~ 96% dense) with the desired rhombohedral crystal structure and mechanical properties consistent with conventional LATP. We find that laser scan speed influences the development of secondary phase particles, which affect the ionic conductivity. Further parameter optimization will improve the ionic conductivity of L-PBF LATP to enable single-step fabrication of LATP as a solid-state battery electrolyte using binderless laser-based additive manufacturing.
Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta: simulation improves performance but may require interval training to prevent skill degradation.

Purpose Surgical trainees are exposed to less procedures with increasing need for simulation. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) has become increasingly implemented for hemorrhage control, yet most courses are catered to faculty level with little data on trainees. We propose that routine training in this critical procedure will improve trainee performance over time. Methods This is a prospective, observational study at a level I trauma center involving a monthly trauma procedural program. Early in the month, trainees received hands-on REBOA training; at the end, trainees underwent standardized, class-based evaluation on a perfused trainer. Score percentages were recorded (0-100%). Endpoints included early, mid and late performance (2-12 months). Paired T-test and Pearson's coefficient were used to evaluate differences and strength of association between time between training and performance. Results 25 trainees participated with 5 and 11 repeat learners in the PGY-2 and PGY-3 classes, respectively. Median early performance score was 62.5% (IQR 56-81) for PGY-2s and 91.6% (IQR 75-100) in PGY-3s. Pearson's coefficient between time between and training and score demonstrated a weak correlation in the PGY-2s (r2 = - 0.13), but was more pronounced in the PGY-3s (r2 = - 0.44) with an inflection point at 5 months. Conclusions Routine REBOA training in trainees is associated with improvement in performance within a short period of time. Skill degradation was most pronounced in trainees who did not receive training for more than 5 months. Trainees can be successfully trained in REBOA; however, this should be done at shorter intervals to prevent skill degradation.
Abstract W MP98: Tracheostomy Timing Impacts Stroke Recovery

The timing of tracheostomy in stroke patients unable to protect their airway has become a topic of debate. Proponents for early tracheostomy cite benefits including less ventilation-associated pneumonia, less sedative drug use, shorter length of stay, and reduced mortality in comparison to late tracheostomy. We examined the timing of tracheostomy on stroke patient outcomes across the United States using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2008-2010). Our hypothesis was that patients receiving an early tracheostomy would fare better at discharge in comparison to their counterpart receiving a late tracheostomy. Independent samples t-tests and chi-squared tests were used to make comparisons between early (≤10 days) and late (11-25 days) tracheostomy. Multivariable models, adjusted for confounding factors, investigated outcome measures. There were 13,165 stroke cases included in the study (5,591 in the early tracheostomy group and 7,574 in the late tracheostomy group). Univariate comparisons between groups can be found in the included table. Patients receiving an early tracheostomy had a significant reduction in the odds of ventilator-associated pneumonia in comparison to the late tracheostomy group (OR: 0.688, 95% CI: 0.495 - 0.956, P=.026). The adjusted length of stay for patients receiving an early tracheostomy was significantly lower in comparison to the late tracheostomy group (P<.001) and was associated with a 17% reduction in total hospital costs (P<.001). In conclusion, early tracheostomy for stroke patients may reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, thereby shortening the hospital stay and lowering total hospital costs. These relationships warrant further investigation in a large prospective multicenter trial. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Anonymous NIZK proofs of knowledge with preprocessing

In this extended abstract we present an unpublished result in [6] which extends a result in [4]. We give a non-interactive zero-knowledge proof system of knowledge with preprocessing, whose main property is that, after executing two preprocessing phases and given a transcript of a proof phase, the verifier is not able to relate the transcript to any of the two preprocessing phases significantly better than random guessing. The technique used has motivated the cash scheme in [3]. Because of this result, only mentioned but used in [3], the main observation of Pfitzmann et al. in [8] against the cash scheme in [3] doesn't hold. We also discuss the other observations of Pfitzmann et al. in [8] against the cash schemes in [3, 5] and show that all of them don't hold. As a conclusion, the cash schemes in [3, 5] are not broken at all.
A Minimization Algorithm

Here is an algorithm for computing the collapsing relation ≈ for a given DFA M with no inaccessible states. Our algorithm will mark (unordered) pairs of states {p, q}. A pair {p, q} will be marked as soon as a reason is discovered why p and q are not equivalent.
Valuing Health Risk Changes Using a Life-Cycle Consumption Framework

Government agencies routinely use the “value of a statistical life” (VSL) in benefit-cost analyses of proposed environmental and safety regulations. Here I review an alternative approach for valuing health risks using a “life-cycle consumption framework.” This framework is based on an explicit individual-level lifetime utility function over health and income at all ages, and so could be used to examine any pattern of health risk changes over a person’s lifespan. I discuss several potential advantages of this framework, both positive and normative. From a positive perspective, this framework can support a functional benefit transfer approach that is more flexible and potentially more accurate than the standard point-value benefit transfer approach based on the VSL, and it can be used to evaluate mortality and morbidity effects simultaneously in an internally consistent model. From a normative perspective, it provides a natural foundation for a social welfare function and therefore could facilitate a unified evaluation of efficiency and equity, as a supplement to traditional benefit-cost analysis.
Learning about software errors via systematic experimentation

Critical to the success of any real world agent is the ability to detect and recover from unsuccessful actions. Failing to detect these errors may cause the execution of the remainder of a plan to have unexpected and dangerous effects. In this paper we present ED (the error detective) which systematically executes lesioned operators in order to generate a table of errors and associated causes for a software agent. We describe features of software environments that allow us to efficiently build this table without searching for simultaneous errors or making the single fault assumption. We then report on experiments comparing several methods for utilizing this collected data to build an error diagnosis function.
The Huntington's Disease Dysphagia Scale

Background Little is known about the swallowing disturbances of patients with Huntington's disease; therefore, we developed the Huntington's Disease Dysphagia Scale. Methods The scale was developed in four stages: (1) item generation, (2) comprehension testing, (3) evaluation of reliability, (4) item reduction and validity testing. The questionnaire was presented twice to 50 Huntington's disease patients and their caregivers. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to evaluate whether the severity of swallowing difficulties increased with advancing disease. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to examine the construct validity with the Swallowing Disturbance Questionnaire. Results The final version contained 11 items with five response options and exhibited a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.728. The severity of swallowing difficulties was significantly higher in more advanced Huntington's disease. The correlation with the Swallowing Disturbance Questionnaire was 0.734. Conclusion We developed a valid and reliable 11-item scale to measure the severity of dysphagia in Huntington's disease. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Factor analysis of Raman spectra of polyethylene under high pressure

Raman spectra of very high signal quality in the skeletal optical region were obtained for linear polyethylene at three different pressures: ambient, 1.03 kbar, and 3.84 kbar. We have employed the factor analysis technique to decompose a series of spectra at temperatures near the melt. We found that there were two non-trivial abstract spectra for data at ambient pressure and 1.03 kbar and three non-trivial abstract spectra for the 3.84 kbar data. The plots of the third reconstruction coefficients vs. temperature gave scattered points in the first two cases and a structured curve in the case of the highest pressure. Based on these observations, we conclude that there are two linearly independent contributions (crystalline and melt) to the two lower pressure data sets and three (crystalline, melt, and intermediate) to the highest pressure data set. We believe this is the first piece of evidence for the existence of the high-pressure phase of polyethylene from spectroscopically derived measurements.
A tidal creek water budget: Estimation of groundwater discharge and overland flow using hydrologic modeling in the Southern Everglades

Taylor Slough is one of the natural freshwater contributors to Florida Bay through a network of microtidal creeks crossing the Everglades Mangrove Ecotone Region (EMER). The EMER ecological function is critical since it mediates freshwater and nutrient inputs and controls the water quality in Eastern Florida Bay. Furthermore, this region is vulnerable to changing hydrodynamics and nutrient loadings as a result of upstream freshwater management practices proposed by the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program (CERP), currently the largest wetland restoration project in the USA. Despite the hydrological importance of Taylor Slough in the water budget of Florida Bay, there are no fine scale (w 1k m 2 ) hydrodynamic models of this system that can be utilized as a tool to evaluate potential changes in water flow, salinity, and water quality. Taylor River is one of the major creeks draining Taylor Slough freshwater into Florida Bay. We performed a water budget analysis for the Taylor River area, based on long-term hydrologic data (1999e2007) and supplemented by hydrodynamic modeling using a MIKE FLOOD (DHI, http://dhigroup.com/) model to evaluate groundwater and overland water discharges. The seasonal hydrologic characteristics are very distinctive (average Taylor River wet vs. dry season outflow was 6 to 1 during 1999e2006) with a pronounced interannual variability of flow. The water budget shows a net dominance of through flow in the tidal mixing zone, while local precipitation and evapotranspiration play only a secondary role, at least in the wet season. During the dry season, the tidal flood reaches the upstream boundary of the study area during approximately 80 days per year on average. The ground- water field measurements indicate a mostly upwards-oriented leakage, which possibly equals the evapotranspiration term. The model results suggest a high importance of groundwater contribution to the water salinity in the EMER. The model performance is satisfactory during the dry season where surface flow in the area is confined to the Taylor River channel. The model also provided guidance on the importance of capturing the overland flow component, which enters the area as sheet flow during the rainy season. Overall, the modeling approach is suitable to reach better understanding of the water budget in the mangrove region. However, more detailed field data is needed to ascertain model predictions by further calibrating overland flow parameters.
La virgen meets the Salsa police

A 1996 stage production conceived and written by the Latina Theater Lab of Oakland, California, gave a makeover to that most Mexican of icons, the Virgin of Guadalupe. An early scene in “?i Que Nuevas!? What's New!?: The Immaculate Conception” shows Guadalupe giving birth to six or seven Latinas, whose most striking feature is their dissimilarity. Throughout the play, Guadalupe herself is brought down to earth, quite literally. At one points she appears at a dance club attired in black leather mini‐skirt. This Guadalupe is not confined to the sacred altars of church and home, nor is her “look” restricted to the Mona‐Lisa‐like, virginal beauty of her most famous portrait. This Guadalupe is ready (and appropriately attired) for action where and when her sisters most need her. The play's central theme is that thorny question of ethno‐national identity and authenticity. It presents Latinas in many manifestations: the Virgin, a revolutionary, a would‐be “Barbie” cosmetologist, a prostitute, a lesbian, a homele...
CT scout z-resolution improvement with image restoration methods

Currently, new applications demand utilizing CT scout images for diagnostic purposes. However, many CT scout images cannot be used diagnostically due to their poor resolution, particularly in the direction of table movement. Spatial resolution generally can be improved with image restoration techniques. Based on the principles of Wiener filtering and inverse filtering, this paper presents a modified Wiener filtering approach in the frequency domain. The concept of equivalent target point spread function is introduced, which makes the restoration process steerable. Consequently, balancing resolution improvement with noise suppression is facilitated. Experiments compare the image quality with traditional inverse filtering and Wiener filtering. The modified Wiener filtering method has been shown to restore the scout image with higher resolution and lower noise.
Innovation in healthcare: Issues and future trends☆

Abstract Despite the fact that there has been significant improvement in the healthcare industry, inefficiency still exists and little accomplished in understanding how to overcome those inefficiencies using innovation in healthcare. This study seeks to answer the following research questions. How do executives and practitioners define the term innovation in healthcare? How do healthcare organizations come up with innovative ideas and how do they make those innovative decisions? How do healthcare executives and practitioners roll out those innovative changes in their organizations? What strategies do these organizations apply toward the formulation of innovative decisions? What role does information technology play in the innovative process? The researchers conducted in-depth interviews to answer several research questions. The respondents included 21C-level healthcare executives from 15 healthcare units. Results of the decision-making processes used by these executives concerning innovation conclude with a practical model. Finally, implications for practitioners and policy makers and future trends complete the paper.
Single loop multi-gap resonator for whole body EPR imaging of mice at 1.2 GHz.

For whole body EPR imaging of small animals, typically low frequencies of 250–750 MHz have been used due to the microwave losses at higher frequencies and the challenges in designing suitable resonators to accommodate these large lossy samples. However, low microwave frequency limits the obtainable sensitivity. L-band frequencies can provide higher sensitivity, and have been commonly used for localized in vivo EPR spectroscopy. Therefore, it would be highly desirable to develop an L-band microwave resonator suitable for in vivo whole body EPR imaging of small animals such as living mice. A 1.2 GHz 16-gap resonator with inner diameter of 42 mm and 48 mm length was designed and constructed for whole body EPR imaging of small animals. The resonator has good field homogeneity and stability to animal-induced motional noise. Resonator stability was achieved with electrical and mechanical design utilizing a fixed position double coupling loop of novel geometry, thus minimizing the number of moving parts. Using this resonator, high quality EPR images of lossy phantoms and living mice were obtained. This design provides good sensitivity, ease of sample access, excellent stability and uniform B1 field homogeneity for in vivo whole body EPR imaging of mice at 1.2 GHz.
An Engineering Shape Benchmark for 3D Models

Three dimensional shape searching is a problem of current interest in several different fields, especially in the mechanical engineering domain. There has been a large body of work in developing representations for 3D shapes. However, there has been limited work done in developing domain dependent benchmark databases for 3D shape searching. In this paper, we propose a benchmark database for evaluating shape based search methods relevant to the mechanical engineering domain. Twelve feature vector based representations are compared using the benchmark database. The main contributions of this paper are development of an engineering shape benchmark and an understanding of the effectiveness of different shape representations for classes of engineering parts.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Expression of polysialylated NCAM but not L1 or N-cadherin by regenerating adult mouse optic fibers in vitro.

This study asks if there might be irreversible maturational changes in adult neurons that limit their capacity to regenerate. Retina from adult and embryonic mouse were placed in culture on laminin substrates so that regenerating adult optic fibers could be compared to growing embryonic fibers. Several cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) known to mediate the growth of embryonic neurites on astrocytes were assayed by immunocytochemistry: L1, N-cadherin, and NCAM. Thy 1.2, a potential CAM with inhibitory activity, was also examined. As in vivo, embryonic fibers were found to express both L1 and N-cadherin. In contrast, regenerating adult fibers had no detectable amounts of either of these CAMs. N-Cadherin is normally down regulated during development so its absence in adult fibers suggests it can not be reexpressed during regeneration. L1 is normally found in the proximal regions of adult optic fibers so its absence indicates it is not expressed or transported in regenerating fibers. Adult regenerating fibers expressed high levels of Thy 1.2, which was undetectable in embryonic optic fibers. Thy 1.2 is normally found in mature fibers, indicating this phenotypic feature is preserved during regeneration. Both adult and embryonic fibers showed strong reactivity for NCAM, which in vivo is normally found in embryonic and at lower levels in adult fibers. Surprisingly, both embryonic and regenerating adult fibers expressed high levels of polysialic acid, which is normally absent in adult fibers. NCAM may be one of few CAMs available to adult optic fibers for regeneration on astrocytes.
The Living Company: Habits for Survival in a Turbulent Business Environment

The article reviews the book “The Living Company: Habits For Survival in a Turbulent Business Environment,” by Arie de Geus.
EFFECTS OF COTYLEDON AND HYPOCOTYL PHOTOSYNTHESIS ON GROWTH OF YOUNG PINE SEEDLINGS

Summary The importance of light to development of Pinus resinosa seedlings for a short time following seed germination was studied. Treatment of seedlings with photosynthesis-inhibiting herbicides (monuron and atrazine) partially inhibited cotyledon expansion. Expansion of primary needles was light-dependent since darkness stopped it. When young seedlings were exposed to 14CO2 in the light, some of the label accumulated in root tips and primary needles, and some was retained in cotyledons and hypocotyls for at least 3 weeks. Although measurable photosynthesis occurred in both cotyledons and green hypocotyl tissues, the rates were much higher in cotyledons. In intact seedlings, expansion of primary needles was not significantly influenced by exposure of hypocotyls to light but in those from which cotyledons had been removed, exposure of hypocotyls to light did affect their expansion. Thus green hypocotyl tissues appeared to be important for expansion of primary needles only in the absence of photosynthesis in the cotyledons. Some growth of cotyledons, radicles and hypocotyls also depended on current photosynthate in addition to megagametophyte reserves.
Observation of highly rotationally excited NO + emissions in the thermosphere

Abstract Ro-vibrational band head emissions from highly rotationally-excited NO+(v,J) (J⩾90) have been observed for quiescent and aurorally disturbed conditions at tangent altitudes between approximately 100 and 215 km in the terrestrial thermosphere. The formation of these band heads in NO+ requires very high rotational excitation with rotational energy of at least 1.9 eV. The data were obtained between 28 and 30 April 1991 with the CIRRIS-1A cryogenic interferometer from on board the space shuttle. These are the first observations of non-thermal rotational emissions from NO+ in the airglow. Several possible sources of these non-thermal emissions are discussed. This is the third in a series of recent discoveries (all from the CIRRIS-1A data base) of significant non-thermal rotational effects in an important atmospheric species.
LOCALIZATION AND FATE OF ESCHERICHIA COLI IN HEMATOGENOUS PYELONEPHRITIS

1. Hematogenous E. coli pyelonephritis was produced in rats. The localization of the organisms and the persistence of bacterial antigens was followed by fluorescent antibody techniques as well as by standard histological and bacteriological methods. 2. Salient sequential features were as follows: Single organisms passed through vessel walls into the renal interstitium and began multiplication and subsequently evoked a leucocytic response. Bacterial multiplication did not occur in glomeruli or renal tubular cells. Bacteria did not appear within renal tubular lumina until microabscesses were well developed in the renal interstitium. Bacteriuria appeared late and represented secondary invasion rather than filtration of organisms. The infection healed spontaneously but, while sterile, the parenchymal scars contained large amounts of residual bacterial antigen. The persistence of bacterial antigen did not result in continuing inflammatory changes or progressive scarring. 3. The persistence of bacterial antigens is postulated to constitute a major antigenic stimulus responsible for active immunity in experimental hematogenous pyelonephritis.
How circuits work

Abstract This paper presents a theory of commonsense understanding of the behavior of electronic circuits. It is based on the intuitive qualitative reasoning electrical engineers use when they analyze circuits. This intuitive reasoning provides a great deal of important information about the operation of the circuit, which although qualitative in nature, describes important quantitative aspects of circuit functioning (feedback paths, stability, impedance and gain estimates, etc.). One aspect of the theory, causal analysis, describes how the behavior of the individual components can be combined to explain the behavior of composite systems. Another aspect of the theory, teleological analysis, describes how the notion that the system has a purpose can be used to structure and aid this causal analysis. The theory is implemented in a computer program, EQUAL, which, given a circuit topology, can construct by qualitative causal analysis a description of the mechanism by which the circuit operates. This mechanism is then parsed by a grammar for circuit functions.
Inductive proofs of q -log concavity

Abstract We give inductive proofs of q -log concavity for the Gaussian polynomials and the q -Stirling numbers of both kinds. Similar techniques are applied to show that certain sequences of elementary and complete symmetric functions are q -log concave.
Failure of orthotropic plates containing a circular opening

Failure of composite plates containing a circular opening is investigated and results are given for plates subjected to uniaxial loading. Stresses and strains in the composite were analyzed using the Lekhnitskii anisotropic elasticity theory. A failure criterion based on the strain energy density function is presented for predicting the externally applied load that will initiate failure and to determine the location of the failure at the opening. Typical results are presented for boron/epoxy, graphite/epoxy and glass/epoxy composites.
Efficiency in Education: Research and Implications

In this paper we explore some of the policy issues related to the provision of primary and secondary education in the United States from an economic standpoint. We begin with stylized facts and a brief reference to the uniquely decentralized financing and delivery of public education in the United States, and the resulting issues of equity and quality that arise. As a reference point we review the basic efficiency and equity arguments for public financing and the provision of public goods in general, and education specifically, both of which suggest that current practices are unlikely to be efficient or equitable. These are issues that have motivated a number of policy avenues—the accountability movement, including No Child Left Behind, as well as recent efforts to establish higher and uniform standards for our public schools. We then turn to the sizable body of literature assessing school performance. We include an empirical example of this approach for Texas primary and secondary schools, with a focus on the many challenging issues involved with modeling and assessing educational performance. Our application demonstrates that research findings are highly sensitive to modeling choices, suggesting that a mixed methods approach is most likely to lead to effective education reforms.
The relationship between sex-role identity and beliefs in personal control

Three hundred and ten college undergraduate students completed the Bem Sex-Role Inventory and Rotter's Internal-External Scale measuring locus of control. Males were significantly more internal than females. Both males and females who had high same-sex scale scores were significantly more internal than those with low same-sex scale scores. That is, males who were masculine or androgynous and females who were feminine or androgynous reported greater internal locus of control beliefs than did those males who were feminine or undifferentiated and those females who were masculine or undifferentiated. It was suggested that these findings result from different styles of power typically associated with sex-role stereotypes.
Pyogenic Brain and Lung Abscesses Due to Streptococcus intermedius

A 36-year-old man with a history of substance abuse was admitted for two days of fever, cough, and confusion. Aside from dental caries, which had worsened due to methamphetamine use, he had no medical history. On examination, he was febrile to 101.0 °F and stuporous with horizontal nystagmus. Laboratory data revealed a leukocytosis of 29,500 cells/mm3 and a negative HIV screen. Gadolinium-contrasted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed two ring-enhancing lesions in the parieto-occipital cortex (Fig. 1), and computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest revealed a cavitary, right lower lobe lung mass (Fig. 2). A CT-guided core biopsy of the lung mass demonstrated inflammatory debris histologically, with culture yielding Streptococcus intermedius. Figure 1. T2-weighted, gadolinium-contrasted MRI of the brain revealing two 2.0 cm ring-enhancing lesions in the parieto-occipital cortex bilaterally with associated vasogenic edema. Figure 2. CT of the chest indicating a 5.5 cm, cavitary right lower lobe lung mass. Oral anaerobes and microaerophilic streptococci are common isolates of concomitant brain-lung abscesses where poor dentition and aspiration underlie pathogenesis.1 Such infections begin with pneumonia, followed by hematogenous seeding of the cerebral cortex, leading to multiple abscesses in a middle cerebral artery distribution. In contrast, solitary brain abscesses of the frontal lobe develop as a result of sinusitis or odontogenic infection.2 Successful treatment of brain abscesses usually requires surgical drainage and antimicrobial chemotherapy.3 The patient underwent stereotactic drainage of both brain abscesses and a course of intravenous antibiotic therapy.
Oxidation Studies of Fluorine Containing Diamond Films

The thermogravimetric method is used to study the oxidation properties of plasma grown diamond films both with and without fluorine. The oxidation experiments occur over a temperature range of 600–800 °C in pure oxygen at atmospheric pressure. Diamond films with fluorine are found more resistant (by a factor of 4 at 700 °C) to oxidation. The activation energy for oxidation, however, is a factor of at least 2.3 lower for fluorinated diamond films. Consequently, it is postulated that oxidation mechanisms for diamond films are quite different depending upon the fluorine content. Oxidation on nonfluorinated diamond films seem to proceed as a rate‐limited reaction while the oxidation of fluorinated films seems to be a diffusion limited reaction. Oxidation rates are also found to depend weakly on film density, crystal texture, and phase composition of the diamond films.
Documentation for software engineers: what is needed to aid system understanding?

Software engineers rely on program documentation as an aid in understanding the functional nature, high-level design, and implementation details of complex applications. However, no one really knows what types of documentation are truly useful to software engineers to aid system understanding. This workshop focuses on issues related to this fundamental problem, such as what formats the documentation should take, who should produce it, and when. The juxtaposition of a technical communication audience with software engineering researchers and practitioners will provide new insights into the problem.
Small molecules in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus

Advances in the understanding of the cellular biological events that underlie systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have led to the identification of key molecules and signaling pathways that are aberrantly expressed. The parallel development of small molecule drugs that inhibit or interfere with the specific perturbations identified, offers perspective for more rational, effective and less toxic therapy. In this review, we present data from preclinical and clinical studies of such emerging novel therapies with a particular focus on kinase inhibitors and other compounds that modulate signal transduction. Moreover, we highlight the use of chromatin-modifying medications, bringing attention to the central role of epigenetics in SLE pathogenesis.
Corrections to the Catalog of the Eriophyoidea (Acarina: Prostigmata) of the World

Abstract Corrections are provided to entries in the Catalog of the Eriophyoidea (Acarina: Prostigmata) of the World by J. Amrine and T. Stasny, 1994; some of the corrections are errors present in the original text; other corrections are based on new information, not available at time of publication.
Deriving fault-slip histories to test for secular variation in slip, with examples from the Kunlun and Awatere faults

Abstract Although offset and age data from displaced landforms are essential for identifying earthquake clusters and thus testing whether faults slip at uniform or secularly varying rates, it is not clear how the uncertainties in such measurements should be propagated so as to yield a robust fault-slip history (i.e., record of fault displacement over time). Here we develop a Monte Carlo approach for estimating the distribution of geologically reasonable fault-slip histories that fit the offset and age data from a population of dated and displaced landforms. The model assumes that the landforms share common faulting histories, the offset and age constraints are correct, and the fault has not reversed shear sense. Analysis of the model results yields both a precise average slip rate, in the case where a linear fit is applied to the data, and a best-fit fault-slip history, in the case where the linear constraint is removed. The method can be used to test for secular variation in slip because the uncertainty on this best-fit history is quantified. By applying the method to previously published morphochronologic data from faulted late Quaternary terrace risers along the Kunlun fault in China and the Awatere fault in New Zealand, we have assessed the extent to which our modeled average slip rates match previously reported values and the data support previous interpretations of uniform slip rate. The Kunlun data set yields average slip rates of 8.7 + 3.6/−2.1 mm/yr and 5.1 + 1.6/−1.2 mm/yr (68.27% confidence), for the central and eastern reaches of the fault, respectively, both of which match previously published slip rates. Our analysis further indicates that these fault reaches have both slipped uniformly over the latest Quaternary. In contrast, analysis of data from the Saxton River site along the Awatere fault reveals a mid-Holocene deceleration in slip rate from 6.2 + 1.6/−1.4 mm/yr to 2.8 + 1.0/−0.6 mm/yr. This result contradicts previous interpretations of uniform slip along the Awatere fault. The Monte Carlo method we present here for quantifying fault-slip histories using the offset and age data from a population of faulted landforms provides an important tool for distinguishing temporally uniform from secularly varying fault slip.
CoBayes: bayesian knowledge corroboration with assessors of unknown areas of expertise

Our work aims at building probabilistic tools for constructing and maintaining large-scale knowledge bases containing entity-relationship-entity triples (statements) extracted from the Web. In order to mitigate the uncertainty inherent in information extraction and integration we propose leveraging the "wisdom of the crowds" by aggregating truth assessments that users provide about statements. The suggested method, CoBayes, operates on a collection of statements, a set of deduction rules (e.g. transitivity), a set of users, and a set of truth assessments of users about statements. We propose a joint probabilistic model of the truth values of statements and the expertise of users for assessing statements. The truth values of statements are interconnected through derivations based on the deduction rules. The correctness of a user's assessment for a given statement is modeled by linear mappings from user descriptions and statement descriptions into a common latent knowledge space where the inner product between user and statement vectors determines the probability that the user assessment for that statement will be correct. Bayesian inference in this complex graphical model is performed using mixed variational and expectation propagation message passing. We demonstrate the viability of CoBayes in comparison to other approaches, on realworld datasets and user feedback collected from Amazon Mechanical Turk.
Locus of control and computer attitude: The effect of user involvement

Abstract Previous research has shown that individuals with an external locus of control have a less positive attitude toward computers and have greater difficulty in working with unfamiliar computer technology than individuals with an internal locus of control. Since past studies have not examined attitude towards a specific computer based information system (CBIS) that had been used regularly, the implications of past research on computer attitudes in a work setting are not clear. This study sought to investigate the relationship between locus of control and user attitude toward information systems used at work. Additionally, the impact of user involvement on this relationship was examined. A field study failed to provide support for the general assertion that locus of control affects a user's attitude towards a specific CBIS. When user involvement was considered, external-control users who had not been highly involved during CBIS development had a less positive attitude towards the CBIS than either internal-control users or external-control users who had been highly involved.
Alzheimer's disease in African American and white families: A clinical analysis

Abstract Social workers and other clinicians are increasingly facing the effects of Alzheimer's disease on the individual and family. Alzheimer's disease is the fourth largest cause of death among U. S. adults, killing more than 100,000 persons annually. More than four million Americans are diagnosed with this disorder. Greater knowledge about the disease and coping patterns among various client groups is essential. This paper discusses Alzheimer's and focuses on racial differences in the strategies families use to cope with this debilitating disorder. Case examples illustrate some of these differences.
Interaction of an embryo DNA binding protein with a soybean lectin gene upstream region

Seed protein genes are highly regulated during the soybean life cycle1,2. These genes encode prevalent mRNAs that accumulate and decay during embryogenesis, and are either undetectable or present at low levels in mature plant organ systems2,3. Transcrip-tional activation and repression processes are important in regulating seed protein gene developmental expression programs1,2. We started DNA binding protein studies with the soybean lectin gene4–6 to begin to identify trans-acting proteins and cis-regulatory sequences required for seed protein gene expression. We have identified an embryo DNA binding protein that interacts with specific sequences in the lectin gene 5' region. The DNA binding protein is undetectable in mature plant organ systems and its concentration parallels the lectin gene transcription rate during embryogenesis. The DNA binding protein activity corresponds to a 60,000 Mr (60K) nuclear protein, and a protein of similar size interacts with at least one other seed protein gene but not with a gene inactive during embryogenesis. Our data suggest that the 60K protein, and the DNA sequences that it interacts with, may be involved in regulating lectin gene expression.
Nutritional Practices at a Glance Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type I Nutrition Survey Findings

Proactive nutritional management for children with spinal muscular atrophy type I can provide insight into improved spinal muscular atrophy care. This observational study consisted of a nutritional and medical history survey of children with spinal muscular atrophy type I collected in 2009-2011. Forty-four caregiver survey responses were evaluated using descriptive statistics. Average age of spinal muscular atrophy type I subjects was 5 years (5 mo-16 y). The subject cohort was composed of 22 males, 21 females, and 1 unreported. Nutrition support via feeding tube was utilized by 43 of 44 subjects. A majority of respondents reported using elemental or semi-elemental formula for subjects' essential caloric intake (34 of 44). Formula intolerance issues were reported by many caregivers (27 of 44). Half of caregivers implemented dietary changes on their own or with guidance from other families; 15 caregivers consulted a registered dietitian. Survey responses and comments indicate need for evidence-based nutritional guidelines for spinal muscular atrophy.
A Plastid of Probable Green Algal Origin in Apicomplexan Parasites

Protozoan parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa contain three genetic elements: the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes characteristic of virtually all eukaryotic cells and a 35-kilobase circular extrachromosomal DNA. In situ hybridization techniques were used to localize the 35-kilobase DNA of Toxoplasma gondii to a discrete organelle surrounded by four membranes. Phylogenetic analysis of the tufA gene encoded by the 35-kilobase genomes of coccidians T. gondii and Eimeria tenella and the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum grouped this organellar genome with cyanobacteria and plastids, showing consistent clustering with green algal plastids. Taken together, these observations indicate that the Apicomplexa acquired a plastid by secondary endosymbiosis, probably from a green alga.
The Effect of Trust and Commitment on Retention of High-Risk Professional Service Customers

This article addresses the interpersonal in fluences of trust and commitment on retention for high risk, high Relational customers of professional Services. Drawing on the Service and channels lite...
A more persuasive justification for pediatric research.

No one produces more thoughtful and insightful work on the ethics of pediatric research than Dave Wendler. I claim, though, that there is a more persuasive justification for pediatric research that...
Learning and Cooperation in Sequential Games

The predictions of classical game theory for one-shot and finitely repeated play of many 2x2 simulta neous games do not correspond to human behavior observed in laboratory experiments. The promis ing results of learning models in tracking human behavior coupled with the growing electronic market and the number of e-commerce applications has resulted in an increased interest in studying the behavior of adaptive artificial agents in different economic games. We model agents with a reinforce ment learning algorithm and analyze cooperative behavior in a sequential prisoner's dilemma game. Our results demonstrate the ability of artificial agents to learn cooperative behavior even in sequential games where defection is the subgame perfect Nash equilibrium. We attribute the reciprocal-like behavior to the structural flow of information, which reduces the risks of exploitation faced by the second-mover. Additionally, we analyze the impact of the second-mover's temptation payoff and pay off risks on the rate of cooperative behavior.
General management of innovation: lessons from the Shaker community

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to employ the concepts of the general management of innovation to help explain the extraordinary inventiveness of the Shaker religious community.Design/methodology/approach – Utilizing historical accounts of Shaker philosophy and practice, the paper examines Shaker innovativeness through the lens of the general management of innovation in order to develop a historical interpretation of innovation within the Shaker community.Findings – It was demonstrated that Shaker society possessed a large number of the organizational characteristics, management practices, and values, which have subsequently been found to be positively related to innovative behaviors in modern institutions.Research limitations/implications – Future research should examine in even greater depth specific values, structure, and practices of Shaker communities as well as focusing on key concepts in other fields such as product, operations, or R&D management to yield additional insights into the managem...
Elevated D Dimer in the Lungs and Blood of Patients With Sarcoidosis

The hypothesis of this study was that D dimer, a specific degradation product of cross-linked fibrin, would be increased in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids of patients with sarcoidosis and that it would be related to other BAL parameters of disease activity. Eight of 10 sarcoidosis patients but none of 18 healthy volunteers had detectable BAL D dimer by enzyme immunoassay. Autoradiography revealed the presence of fibrinogen and D dimer in the BAL fluids from sarcoidosis patients. Bronchoalveolar lavage D dimer levels in sarcoidosis patients correlated with total BAL cells per milliliter, lymphocytes per milliliter, and total protein level, but not macrophages per milliliter. The D dimer in the BAL fluids from sarcoidosis patients did not correlate with D dimer in the blood. Our findings indicate that BAL D dimer parallels directly the lymphocytic alveolitis that characterizes pulmonary sarcoidosis.
Simulation toolbox for 3D-FISH Spot-counting algorithms

Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) is a molecular diagnostic technique in which a fluorescent labeled probe hybridizes to a target nucleotide sequence of DNA. Upon excitation, each chromosome containing the target sequence produces a fluorescent signal (spot). New technology provides a stack of images on multiple focal planes throughout a tissue sample. Multiple-focal-plane imaging helps to overcome the biases and imprecision inherent in single-focal-plane methods. New algorithms are being proposed to take advantage of the multiple focal planes. This paper presents a simulation toolbox that generates synthetic spots, both signal and noise, with which to evaluate algorithm performance. By using the toolbox, preset algorithm parameters can be tuned or optimized. Two critical issues for any algorithm are the sampling rate, which is the number of focal planes used, and the parameters for the filter that determines which detected spots are signal and which are noise. One would like to use a minimal number of focal planes for reasons of both time and cost, and one would like to have a noise filter that optimally balances the passing and non-passing of signal and noise spots. As demonstrated, it is possible to go further and calibrate the noise filter so that the expected number of counted spots, both signal and noise, is approximately equal to the actual number of signal spots.
Excitation of Mouse Superficial Dorsal Horn Neurons by Histamine and/or PAR-2 Agonist: Potential Role in Itch

Recent studies have suggested the existence of separate transduction mechanisms and sensory pathways for histamine and nonhistaminergic types of itch. We studied whether histamine and an agonist of the protease-activated receptor (PAR)-2, associated with nonhistaminergic itch, excite murine dorsal horn neurons. Single units were recorded in superficial lumbar dorsal horn of adult ICR mice anesthetized with pentobarbital. Unit activity was searched using a small intradermal hindpaw injection of histamine or the PAR-2 agonist SLIGRL-NH2. Isolated units were subsequently challenged with intradermal histamine followed by SLIGRL-NH2 (each 50 μg/1 μl) or reverse order, followed by mechanical, thermal, and algogenic stimuli. Forty-three units were classified as wide dynamic range (62%), nociceptive specific (22%), or mechano insensitive (16%). Twenty units gave prolonged (mean, 10 min) discharges to intradermal injection of histamine; 76% responded to subsequent SLIGRL-NH2, often more briefly. Units additionally responded to noxious heat (63%), cooling (43%), topical mustard oil (53%), and intradermal capsaicin (67%). Twenty-two other units gave prolonged (mean, 5 min) responses to initial intradermal injection of SLIGRL-NH2; 85% responded to subsequent intradermal histamine. They also responded to noxious heat (75%), mustard oil (93%), capsaicin (63%), and one to cooling. Most superficial dorsal horn neurons were excited by both histamine and the PAR-2 agonist, suggesting overlapping pathways for histamine- and non–histamine-mediated itch. Because the large majority of pruritogen-responsive neurons also responded to noxious stimuli, itch may be signaled at least partly by a population code.