cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Judicial discourses on women's agency in violent relationships: Cases from California

Adult female targets of domestic violence by male perpetrators have commonly been described as helpless and passive. This is consistent with the criminal justice system's perception that true “victims” have little culpability or agency in a violent assault. Otherwise, the “victims” are more likely to be defined as participants in the violent act, and thus unworthy of official protection. This study examines court opinions involving convictions of male offenders of domestic violence against their female partners and ex-partners. The purpose is to understand the development of judicial knowledge as to whether women in relationships with violent men are socially constructed as worthy and legitimate victims of violence. The 60+ appellate case opinions in the analysis are those where a California trial court accepted expert testimony on domestic violence in prosecuting the male offenders to explain the women's actions regarding their violent relationships. California was chosen because of the state's progressive and unique evidentiary statutes that permit a broad range of evidence in criminal prosecutions of domestic violence, including expert witnesses. In reviewing the judicial opinions that comprise the corpus, I found that an underlying assumption evident in the judicial discourses is that abused women would, should or could easily exercise agency in ending an abusive relationship and, once it was ended, refuse to reengage in their abusive relationships. Using critical discourse analysis, this study shows that, in constructing women's agency in resisting abusive relationships, judicial discourse tended to rely more heavily upon expert testimony and, in a few cases, on prosecutorial arguments, than on the testimony (i.e. voice) of the female victims themselves. In this process, the women's voices were silenced or marginalized as experts’ constructions of victimized women were preferred.
Adolescent height growth of US children.

SummaryFeatures of adolescent height growth are characterized, using data from 6532 children, black and white, participating in the Harvard Six Cities Study from 1974 to 1989.
Subjective expected utility and academic preferences

Abstract Graduate students in an interdisciplinary Industrial Relations program rated the relative preferability of the six academic areas from which they take courses, the probabilities that each academic area and the attainment of the M.S. degree would lead to satisfactory levels of each of 14 kinds of payoffs, and the utilities of the payoffs. The probabilities and utilities were used to compute subjective expected utilities (SEUs) for each academic area and for the M.S. degree. The relative magnitudes of the SEUs associated with the six academic areas were correlated with the relative preferability for the academic areas; the mean correlation was .81. A systematic relationship emerged between the SEU associated with the M.S. degree and the SEUs associated with the six preferences for the academic areas.
Providing and withholding impression management support for romantic partners: Gender of the audience matters

Abstract People will strategically control the information they express to others about friends in order to help those friends make a good impression. The present study sought to determine if romantic partners also engage in this behavior. Results from Experiment 1 indicated that people who express stronger feelings for their dating partners adjusted the descriptions of these significant others to help them make a desirable impression on a same-sex but not opposite-sex other. Experiments 2 and 3 provided support for the hypotheses that participants helped in the same-sex condition because they were focused on their partners’ impression management needs (partner-focused concerns) and failed to help in the opposite-sex condition due to their own preferences for how their partner should appear (self-focused concerns).
The Spatial Effects of Wage or Property Tax Differentials, and Local Government Choice between Tax Instruments☆

Abstract This paper considers the spatial effects (on wages, employment, and business capital as functions of location) of a localized differential in source-based wage tax rates or business property tax rates between (for example) a central city and the surrounding suburbs. A simple model is used in which business production uses only labor and capital inputs. Consumers have fixed residential locations but may commute to work. Wage and property tax differentials have effects that are similar in some ways but different in other ways. If given a choice, a local government would choose to set its business property tax rate equal to zero and use only a wage tax.
Plasma sheath transducer for axisymmetric re- entry vehicles

F aerodynamic stability, the center of gravity must be forward of the center of pressure Frequently, conical and other axisymmetric re-entry vehicles require highdensity ballast (e g , lead) located as far forward as possible to achieve stability Ballast preempts useful payload This note describes a transducer that serves two functions: it substitutes for ballast, and it provides useful information concerning the plasma sheath The transducer described herein is similar to one developed for measurement of electrical conductivityvelocity all in arc plasma jets and rocket exhausts l It is an extension of a transducer described by Shercliff and by Lehde and Lang 3 It consists of three circular coils with a common axis The two outer coils are driven at audio frequencies and are connected so that the magnetic fields are opposing Between the primary coils is a sensing coil The voltage that appears at the terminals of the sensing coil can be related to a U of the flowThe transducer will be located at the forward tip of the re-entry vehicle, if it is to serve as ballast In the stagnation region and just beyond the sonic line, the flow is changing rapidly The question is, how is the sensing coil voltage related to the flow properties? This note answers this question and briefly describes an experiment conducted in an arc plasmajet A re-entry vehicle with ablation cooling is considered The tip of the vehicle requires a thick layer of ablation material as shown in Fig 1 The coil arrangement is also shown in Fig 1 Calculations were made for the geometry illustrated The emf induced in the sensing coil is
High energy and quantum efficiency in photoinduced charge separation.

Supramolecular triad assemblies consisting of a central trisbipyridine ruthenium(II) chromophore (C2+) with one or more appended phenothiazine electron donors (D) and a diquat-type electron acceptor (A2+) have been shown to form long-lived photoinduced charge separated states (CSS) with unusually and consistently high quantum efficiency. Up to now, there has been no understanding for why these large efficiencies (often close to unity) are achieved across this entire class of triads when other, seemingly similar systems are often much less efficient. In the present study, using a bimolecular system consisting of a chromophore−acceptor diad (C2+−A2+) and an N-methylphenothiazine donor, we demonstrate that a ground-state association exists between the RuL32+ and the phenothiazine prior to photoexcitation. It is this association process that is responsible for the efficient CSS formation in the bimolecular system and, by inference, also must be an essential factor in the fully intramolecular process occurring...
Hierarchical Wire Routing

We propose a new approach to automatic wire routing of VLSI chips which is applicable to interconnection problem in uniform structures such as gate arrays, switchboxes, channels. Popularity of gate arrays technologies still remains high among VLSI chip manufacturers and, as the scale of integration grows, the interconnection problem becomes increasingly difficult if not intractable. The same is true for problems of switchbox and channel routing, which usually arise in custom designs; the uniformity of wiring substrate unites them with gate array routing problem. Our approach was initially aimed at gate arrays, but it extends naturally to switchboxes and channels. Uniformity of the wiring substrate is the crucial assumption of the method. It assumes that horizontal and vertical wire segments are realized on different wiring layers and vias are introduced each time a wire changes direction. Any "jogs" ("wrong way" wires) are prohibited. Within these limitations our approach is advantageous over the existing wiring methodologies. Our final layout of wires is independent of both net ordering and ordering of pins within the nets. The wire densities we are able to achieve are often higher than those achieved by other routers. Because of the hierarchical nature of our method it is inherently fast, usually by an order of magnitude faster than the routers based on wave propagation (maze running) technique.
Treating hypernatremic dehydration.

1. Andrew L. Schwaderer, MD 1. Fellow, Pediatric Nephrology 1. George J. Schwartz, MD 1. Professor of Pediatrics Chief, Division of Pediatric Nephrology University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry Rochester, New York In the November 2004 “Index of Suspicion,” Case 1 featured a patient who had hypernatremic dehydration. Dr Scott Hamilton raised the issue of which intravenous solution should be used to treat this condition, given the dangers inherent in lowering the serum sodium level too quickly. Drs Schwaderer and Schwartz have written this commentary to guide clinicians through the complexities of this therapeutic challenge. During most of January, an earlier version of this commentary was printed in the online edition of Pediatrics in Review. This amended version, which was substituted online in late January for the previous commentary, is the text that readers should consult because some corrections were made by the authors. — LFN Hypernatremia, a frequently encountered electrolyte disorder, is defined as a serum sodium level greater than 145 mEq/L (145 mmol/L) and represents a deficit of water in relation to total body sodium. Hypernatremic dehydration may be caused by pure water loss (diabetes insipidus), hypotonic fluid loss (vomiting or diarrhea), or hypertonic sodium gain (hypertonic feeding preparations such as improperly prepared infant formula). (1) Severe hypovolemic hypernatremic dehydration induces brain shrinkage, which can tear the cerebral blood vessels, leading to cerebral hemorrhage, seizures, paralysis, and encephalopathy. (2)(3) Infants who have severe hypernatremia (serum sodium, >160 mEq/L [160 mmol/L]) often present with muscle weakness, a high-pitched cry, insomnia, or lethargy. (1) Younger children tend to have both a higher morbidity and mortality with severe hypernatremia. (2) Breastfeeding hypernatremic dehydration results when a mother-infant feeding interaction is inadequate. In this case, human milk production is limited, and the physiologic decline in human milk sodium concentration does not occur. (4) Forty cases of hypernatremia due to human milk failure have been described in the medical literature. …
Effects of 5-Fluorotryptophan on the Biosynthesis of Ergot Alkaloids by Claviceps Purpurea

The possibility of incorporation of 5-fluorotryptophan into ergot alkaloids by Claviceps purpurea PRL 1565 was explored utilizing randomly tritiated material. Very little radioactivity was found in the alkaloid fraction, most of it residing either in the mycelium or in the base-soluble fraction which would contain unchanged 5-fluorotryptophan. Thin-layer chromatography allowed the isolation of an alkaloid containing radioactivity, but fluoride analysis using neutron activation indicated the absence of fluorine in the molecule. It was concluded that 5-fluorotryptophan was not incorporated into the ergot alkaloids produced by C. purpurea PRL 1565.
Radionuclide concentrations in environmental samples collected around Chernobyl during the international Chernobyl project — analyses conducted by Battelle, Pacific Northwest laboratory☆

Long-lived radionuclides have been measured by Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) in environmental samples collected in the vicinity of Chernobyl. The concentrations and distributions of radionuclides in the environs of Chernobyl measured in this study, were generally in the same range as reported earlier in the official Soviet data releases. The highest radionuclide concentrations observed during this study were in moss samples scraped from the surfaces of roofs, trees, and tombstones, and these moss species appear to be efficient collectors of the Chernobyl fallout in this region. Analyses of undisturbed soil cores indicated that the Chernobyl fallout was still concentrated in the upper several centimeters of soil as of August, 1990. Cesium-137 is the least mobile of all of the radionuclides measured. Radionuclide concentrations in other environmental media are presented and evaluated. The first reported concentrations of 129I in a soil core and moss samples from this region are presented.
Automatic equalizers having minimum adjustment time

Two new types of automatic equalizers for telephone lines are discussed. The modular configurations shown are designed for minimum adjustment time and are ready to receive data as soon as the response of the unequalized line has been measured. Two forms of such equalizers are compared with respect to upper bounds on the residual distortion.
Attenuation Estimation with the Zero-Crossing Technique: Phantom Studies†

Global and local attenuation coefficient estimations were performed in a phantom using a pulse echo method based on the rate of decay of zero crossing density. Focussed and unfocussed 3.5 MHz transducers were used. It was found that good global estimates could be made with either transducer over a 2:1 range of attenuation coefficient. Local estimates exhibit large bias errors and a high degree of variability. This variability diminishes in the focal zone of the focussed transducer and in the far field of the unfocussed transducer.
What You See May Not Be What You Think You Get: Discriminant Analysis in Statistical Packages

Discriminant-classification analysis is a multivariate statistical technique which will increasingly be used by psychologists as research situations become more varied. Use of discriminant analysis will be facilitated by statistical packages such as SPSS (Nie et al., 1975) and BMDP (Dixon and Brown, 1977). This paper discusses considerations in the unwary use of packaged discriminant analysis procedures including: the differences between the "group classification function" and the textbook classification function in both form and use, classification table confusions and their alleviation, and the hazards of stepping procedures. Recommendations concerning how to conduct an exploratory discriminant analysis are made and an example is presented.
Improved radiological/nuclear source localization in variable NORM background: An MLEM approach with segmentation data☆

Abstract A novel approach and algorithm have been developed to rapidly detect and localize both moving and static radiological/nuclear (R/N) sources from an airborne platform. Current aerial systems with radiological sensors are limited in their ability to compensate for variable naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) background. The proposed approach suppresses the effects of NORM background by incorporating additional information to segment the survey area into regions over which the background is likely to be uniform. The method produces pixelated Source Activity Maps (SAMs) of both target and background radionuclide activity over the survey area. The task of producing the SAMs requires (1) the development of a forward model which describes the transformation of radionuclide activity to detector measurements and (2) the solution of the associated inverse problem. The inverse problem is ill-posed as there are typically fewer measurements than unknowns. In addition the measurements are subject to Poisson statistical noise. The Maximum-Likelihood Expectation-Maximization (MLEM) algorithm is used to solve the inverse problem as it is well suited for under-determined problems corrupted by Poisson noise. A priori terrain information is incorporated to segment the reconstruction space into regions within which we constrain NORM background activity to be uniform. Descriptions of the algorithm and examples of performance with and without segmentation on simulated data are presented.
Line tunable visible and ultraviolet laser

A novel method of making a line tunable, visible and near ultraviolet, laser source is proposed and demonstrated. It requires only a single laser and 2 nonlinear crystals. It can produce outputs with wavelengths that cover much of the spectrum from 0.26 to 0.67 mm.
Community Intervention as Clinical Case Study

In the field of community psychology, empowerment is analogous with health, and the concept of intervention, synonymous with treatment, is intended to foster and sustain long-term prevention of both acute and chronic problems in the target community. Community empowerment interventions that include prevention techniques and focus on interpersonal functioning are the most successful form of interventions for communities that have undergone crisis or disaster. In this article, the author briefly reviews the theoretical and research basis for integrating community revitalization techniques with a psychoanalytic model that specifically highlights and addresses interpersonal functioning as the cornerstone of community health and well-being. An illustrative case study includes a conceptualization of the underlying pathological problems that were treated and the adaptive resources thatwere developed in a 4-year intervention in one circumscribed South Central Los Angeles community after the 1992 riots there.
Cavernous hemangioma of the right ventricle: echocardiographic-pathologic correlates.

Cardiac hemangiomas are exceedingly rare primary cardiac tumors. We describe a case of cavernous hemangioma that was diagnosed by two-dimensional echocardiography in a 17-year-old male. The mass was barely noticeable on two-dimensional echocardiography because of its thin walls and echo lucency. Color flow Doppler imaging was very helpful in delineating the flow around the tumor and further enhanced its spacial configuration. Although the mass could not be well visualized with monoplane transesophageal echocardiography, the transesophageal approach excluded other associated pathologic lesions. At surgery, the cavernous hemangioma was attached to the papillary muscle of the tricuspid valve.
The AUDIT-C: screening for alcohol use disorders and risk drinking in the presence of other psychiatric disorders.

Abstract This article examines the performance of the AUDIT-C, as embedded in a large national survey, as a screener for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and risk drinking among individuals with past-year psychopathology. The analysis is based on data collected in personal interviews from a representative population sample of US adults. The study population consisted of past-year drinkers with any past-year mood disorder (n = 2818), any past-year anxiety disorder (n = 3173), or any personality disorder (n = 4389). Screening performance was evaluated by means of sensitivity, specificity, and areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs). The AUCs for the AUDIT-C were from 0.888 to 0.893 for alcohol dependence, from 0.864 to 0.876 for any AUD, and from 0.941 to 0.951 for any AUD or risk drinking—all on a par with those observed in the general population. Among men, cut points of either ≥5 or ≥6 points (the former favoring sensitivity and the latter favoring specificity) were optimal for detecting dependence, and cut points of ≥5 points were optimal for any AUD and for any AUD or risk drinking. Among women, a cut point of ≥4 points was optimal for the outcomes of both alcohol dependence and any AUD, whereas a cut point of ≥3 points was preferable for detecting any AUD or risk drinking.
A pilot study to assess the use of protein a immunoadsorption for chronic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a leading cause of end-stage heart failure and cardiac transplantation. Anticardiac antibodies are common and removal of these through immunoadsorption (IA) is associated with improvement in global cardiac function. The effect of IA on regional function and quality of life (QOL) without intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) substitution has not been described. We performed a pilot trial using Immunosorba® columns in four patients with chronic DCM and NYHA Class II–III congestive heart failure. Subjects were followed for 6 months with serial echocardiograms and validated QOL assessments. Regional and global left ventricular (LV) end-systolic deformations were assessed by two-dimensional strain echocardiography. Total IgG decreased 95% (from 1,210 ± 274 mg/dl to 57 ± 16 mg/dl, P = 0.003) and IgG3 decreased 61% (from 33 ± 16 mg/dl to 13 ± 7 mg/dl, P = 0.024). QOL improved from baseline to 6 months as assessed by the Living with Heart Failure questionnaire (from 54 ± 18 to 19 ± 7, P = 0.029). Mean LV ejection fraction improved from 35 to 40% at Day 5 and to 44% at 6 months (P = NS). The LV end diastolic and end systolic volumes decreased (220–202 ml, 159–130 ml, P = NS) at 6 months. Global end-systolic strain improved from −7.3% at baseline to −8.5% at Day 5 and −8.8% at 6 months (P = NS). Regional LV function and response to IA was not uniform. Even without IVIG substitution, IA for the treatment of chronic DCM is associated with improved QOL up to 6 months after treatment. A randomized, sham-controlled trial is required to confirm the benefits of IA for DCM. J. Clin. Apheresis., 2007 © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Shape optimization and preform design in metal forming processes

Abstract A continuum sensitivity analysis is presented for the computation of the shape sensitivity of finite hyperelastic–viscoplastic deformations involving contact with friction using a direct differentiation method. Weak shape sensitivity equations are developed that are consistent with the kinematic analysis, constitutive sub-problem as well as the analysis of the contact/friction sub-problem used in the solution of the direct deformation problem. The shape sensitivities are defined in a rigorous sense and the linear sensitivity analysis is performed in an infinite-dimensional continuum framework. The direct deformation and the sensitivity deformation problems are implemented using the finite element method. The shape sensitivity analysis is validated by a comparison of the results with those obtained from the solution of the perturbed direct deformation problem (i.e. using finite differences). Finite-dimensional gradients of objective functions are then computed using the results of the shape sensitivity analysis for the purpose of preform design and shape optimization in metal forming. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is demonstrated by solving practical shape optimal design problems in forging processing.
Analysis of unsteady forces in ordered arrays of monodisperse spheres

(Received 19 July 2004 and in revised form 12 October 2005) Time-dependent flows of a Newtonian fluid through periodic arrays of spheres were simulated using the lattice-Boltzmann scheme. By applying a constant body force per unit mass to the fluid, a steady background fluid flow through the array of stationary spheres was first established. Subsequently, a small-amplitude perturbation to the body force, which varied periodically in time, was added and the long-time behaviour of the unsteady flow fields and the forces on the particles were determined. From the simulations, the pressure and friction (shear) forces acting on the particles were determined for a range of conditions. Results on simple cubic lattices are presented. Computations spanned a range of particle volume fractions (0.1 <φ< 0.4), background flow Reynolds numbers (0.25 Rep 60, where Rep =2 auf /ν )a nd oscillatory flow Reynolds numbers (0.9 Reω 420 with Reω =2 a 2 ω/ν). Here uf is the superficial velocity of the fluid through the bed, a is the particle radius, ν is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid, and ω is the oscillation frequency. In the limit of Reω → 0 the quasi-steady-state drag force was obtained. At low Rep this force approached the steady-state drag force, while its increase with Rep was stronger than the steady-state drag force, similar to that for isolated spheres given by Mei et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 233, 1991, p. 613). The unsteady force was decomposed into pressure and friction components. The phase angles of these components in the limit Reω →∞ indicate that the virtual mass force contributes to the unsteady pressure force while the history force contributes to the friction force. The remainder of the unsteady friction and pressure forces is attributed to unsteady drag force. The apparent virtual mass coefficient was found to vary from ∼0.5 at high Reω, which is the well-known limit for isolated spheres in inviscid flows, to ∼1. 0a t low Reω. This change is clearly a consequence of viscous effects. The Reω at which the transition between these limits occurs increases with φ. The history force exhibits a strong decay towards lower values of Reω in accordance with the results of Mei et al. (1991) for isolated spheres; however, the Reω value at which this decay sets in increases appreciably with φ .T hisφ-dependence is associated with the limited separation between the particles available for the Stokes boundary layer. It was found that the unsteady drag coefficient β � varies with Reω .A t lowRep ,t he drag coefficient initially decreases with increasing Reω, passes through a minimum and then increases strongly. With increasing Reω the relative contribution of pressure and friction forces to the unsteady drag force changes.
In vivo gene transfer with retroviral vector-producer cells for treatment of experimental brain tumors

Direct in situ introduction of exogenous genes into proliferating tumors could provide an effective therapeutic approach for treatment of localized tumors. Rats with a cerebral glioma were given an intratumoral stereotaxic injection of murine fibroblasts that were producing a retroviral vector in which the herpes simplex thymidine kinase (HS-tk) gene had been inserted. After 5 days during which the HS-tk retroviral vectors that were produced in situ transduced the neighboring proliferating glioma cells, the rats were treated with the anti-herpes drug ganciclovir. Gliomas in the ganciclovir- and vector-treated rats regressed completely both macroscopically and microscopically. This technique exploits what was previously considered to be a disadvantage of retroviral vectors--that is, their inability to transfer genes into nondividing cells. Instead, this feature of retroviruses is used to target gene delivery to dividing tumor cells and to spare nondividing neural tissue.
Correlates of social problem solving during the first year after traumatic brain injury in children.

Effects of pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) on social problem-solving were examined in a longitudinal study of 103 children with moderate-to-severe TBI (n = 52) or orthopedic injury (OI; n = 51) using the Interpersonal Negotiation Strategies task (INS). Children solved age-appropriate hypothetical social conflicts, with responses for four problem-solving steps scored by developmental level. The OI group performed better than the TBI group, but rate of change in performance over time did not differ between groups, suggesting improvement in children with TBI was not due to recovery from injury. Strong relations between INS performance and memory and language skills emerged, but emotional processing was only weakly related to INS performance. Frontal focal lesions influenced INS performance in younger (but not older) children with TBI. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), revealed strong relationships between the INS and increased apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measures indexing connectivity in the dorsolateral and cingulate regions in both TBI and OI groups, and in the temporal and parietal regions in the TBI group. These findings inform studies of social problem-solving skills during the first year post TBI. Language: en
Wealth effects, treasury bill financing, perpetuity financing, and stability

Abstract This note re-examines the stabilities of government financing by (a) treasury bills, and (b) perpetuities. In contrast to Currie and Gazioglou, it is shown that the wealth effect on expenditures plays the same role in the financing by treasury bills and by perpetuities.
The Effect of Mercury in the Micro-Dynamics of Injection Pipettes

“Microinjection” is becoming increasingly important in molecular biology. These operations include the micromanipulation of cellular subjects, such as piercing procedure through the zona pellucida and the membrane in ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection).Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Cancer cell diagnostics with wavelength-dependent or polarized light scattering

The aim of this work is to investigate light scattering properties of tumorigenic and nontumorigenic and nontumorigenic cells. Specifically, both wavelength dependent and polarization dependent light scattering properties of cells from a multi-step carcinogenesis model have been measure.d Evidence for differences in the light scattering properties of the cells is presented.
Signalling regions: multiprocessing in a shared memory reconsidered

The goal of this paper is to return attention to two problems that arise in the context of supporting the monitor as a mechanism for concurrent programming. This paper will re-examine the monitor concept in its original context—a multiprocessing environment implemented on a single processor sharing memory with and being interrupted by asynchronous peripheral devices—and will address the two previously unresolved problems. The first is the conflict between the immediate resumption requirement in explicit signalling and the policies and priorities of the process scheduler. The second is the possibility of deadlock inherent in nested monitors and in its most important instance, the dynamic resource allocation problem. After briefly describing the historical context of these two problems, the paper proposes a language structure called a signalling region that together with the notion of encapsulation by modules solves the immediate resumption problem and avoids the nested monitor problem. The former is done by a combination of the signal-and-return semantics of Concurrent Pascal and the signal-and-continue semantics of Mesa and StarMod. The latter is done by suggesting that mutual exclusion and data encapsulation are distinct concepts that, if separated, make nested encapsulation possible while avoiding the problems of nested mutual exclusion. Classical examples of the use of signalling regions in an extended Modula-2 are given as well as an implementation by translation to unextended Modula-2 together with a Kernel module.
The Protein-tyrosine Phosphatase SHP-1 Associates with the Phosphorylated Immunoreceptor Tyrosine-based Activation Motif of FcγRIIa to Modulate Signaling Events in Myeloid Cells

FcγRIIa is a low affinity IgG receptor uniquely expressed in human cells that promotes phagocytosis of immune complexes and induces inflammatory cytokine gene transcription. Recent studies have revealed that phagocytosis initiated by FcγRIIa is tightly controlled by the inositol phosphatase SHIP-1, and the protein-tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1. Whereas the molecular nature of SHIP-1 involvement with FcγRIIa has been well studied, it is not clear how SHP-1 is activated by FcγRIIa to mediate its regulatory effect. Here we report that FcγRIIa clustering induces SHP-1 phosphatase activity in THP-1 cells. Using synthetic phosphopeptides, and stable transfectants expressing immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) tyrosine mutants of FcγRIIa, we demonstrate that SHP-1 associates with the phosphorylated amino-terminal ITAM tyrosine of FcγRIIa, whereas the tyrosine kinase Syk associates with the carboxyl-terminal ITAM tyrosine. Association of SHP-1 with FcγRIIa ITAM appears to suppress total cellular tyrosine phosphorylation. Furthermore, FcγRIIa clustering results in the association of SHP-1 with key signaling molecules such as Syk, p85 subunit of PtdIns 3-kinase, and p62dok, suggesting that these molecules may be substrates of SHP-1 in this system. Finally, overexpression of wild-type SHP-1 but not catalytically deficient SHP-1 led to a down-regulation of NFκB-dependent gene transcription in THP-1 cells activated by clustering FcγRIIa.
Turning induced by unilateral injection of antimicrotubular agents into the substantia nigra.

Abstract 1. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given unilateral injections of colchicine, vinblastine, or saline into the substantia nigra pars compacta. 2. The injection of vinblastine or colchicine produced a motor imbalance which was manifested as a turning away (contralateral rotation) from the injected side. This effect decreased over a period of days. 3. These data suggest that disruption of microtubule-dependent systems within the nigra may result in a functional stimulation of the nigrostriatal pathway.
A single-center experience in capturing inpatient evaluation and management for an IR practice.

Abstract Purpose To demonstrate that interventional radiologists can capture work relative value units (wRVUs) for the work that is already being performed providing evaluation and management (E&M) clinical services. Materials and Methods A team approach was implemented to optimize revenue capture for inpatient E&M. Structured templates were created for inpatient documentation to ensure that maximum wRVUs were captured. Inpatient billing was audited from fiscal year 2011 (1 year before meeting and structured template creation) through fiscal year 2014. Specifically, data were collected on total charges, collections, wRVUs and total number of inpatient E&M encounters, and the level of the billed encounter. Results Retrospective annual audits revealed that overall inpatient E&M billing charges increased by 722%, whereas collections increased by 831% from 2011 to 2014. The wRVUs increased in 2011 from 181.74 to 1,396.9 (669% increase) in 2014, and the number of inpatient E&M encounters billed increased from 130 to 693 (433% increase) over that same time period. Lower level billing (level I) declined from 30% to 19%, and complex billing levels (level II or higher) increased from 70% to 81%. Conclusions By implementing a systems approach to revenue management, which includes physician and billing staff meetings and the use of structured templates, billing capture from inpatient E&M services can be improved.
Correlation of in vitro cytokine responses with the chemical composition of soil-derived particulate matter.

We treated human lung epithelial cells, type BEAS-2B, with 10–80 μg/cm2 of dust from soils and road surfaces in the western United States that contained particulate matter (PM) < 2.5 μm aerodynamic diameter. Cell viability and cytokine secretion responses were measured at 24 hr. Each dust sample is a complex mixture containing particles from different minerals mixed with biogenic and anthropogenic materials. We determined the particle chemical composition using methods based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Speciation Trends Network (STN) and the National Park Service Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) network. The functionally defined carbon fractions reported by the ambient monitoring networks have not been widely used for toxicology studies. The soil-derived PM2.5 from different sites showed a wide range of potency for inducing the release of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 in vitro. Univariate regression and multivariate redundancy analysis were used to test for correlation of viability and cytokine release with the concentrations of 40 elements, 7 ions, and 8 carbon fractions. The particles showed positive correlation between IL-6 release and the elemental and pyrolyzable carbon fractions, and the strongest correlation involving crustal elements was between IL-6 release and the aluminum:silicon ratio. The observed correlations between low-volatility organic components of soil- and road-derived dusts and the cytokine release by BEAS-2B cells are relevant for investigation of mechanisms linking specific air pollution particle types with the initiating events leading to airway inflammation in sensitive populations.
Rethinking China's Strategy in Asia and Beyond: Can We All Get It Right?

A s Steven Levine astutely observed back in 1984, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) was “a regional power without a regional policy.”1 Indeed, China was without an Asia strategy until the end of the Cold War. While a number of books have examined the rise of China in the Asian context or looked at Beijing’s relations with its neighbors, until now there has not been a study focused on how China thinks about Asia. Gilbert Rozman’s book Chinese Strategic Thought toward Asia is, therefore, an important book. Strategy is probably the most overused and least defined word in the lexicon of the U.S. national security community. The closest Rozman comes to clarifying what he means by the term “strategic thought” appears well into the volume when he says he is referring to “ideas...[about the] means to realize ends” (p. 68). What Rozman seems to mean by the term is what is widely known as “grand strategy” (pp. 2, 3). In essence, the book is a thoughtful and comprehensive overview of big-picture thinking about Asia in post-Mao China. There is probably no scholar better equipped to tackle this topic. Rozman has written extensively on Chinese analyses of the countries on China’s periphery and those states’ analyses of China. The result is a tour de force treatment organized chronologically and geographically with a stand-alone overview introductory chapter. The first part consists of four chapters that divide Chinese thinking into four periods. Chapter 2 examines the decade of the 1980s, chapters 3 and 4 survey the 1990s, and chapter 5 explores the 2000s. The latter part of the book examines Chinese thinking toward Asian countries or subregions. There are separate chapters on Japan and Korea, Russia shares
Optimal topologies of resonant DC/DC converters

Generalized and optimal topologies of zero-voltage-switching and zero-current-switching resonant DC/DC power converters are presented. It is shown that many equivalent topologies of the converters can be derived from each of the generalized topologies. The generalized topologies of the converters show clearly which of the parasitic capacitances and inductances can be absorbed into the LC resonant circuit. Utilizing this fact, optimal topologies that are the most suitable for high-frequency operation are derived. In the optimal topologies, the greatest possible number of parasitic reactances is included harmlessly in the resonant circuit. Optimum layout and component selection guidelines for the converters are given. High-order resonant converters are also developed. >
Helical crystals of sickle cell hemoglobin.

Abstract Thin ribbon-like crystals are intermediates in the formation of large crystals of deoxyhemoglobin S from many individual fibers. The thin crystals show foldedover regions when observed by electron microscopy. Some crystals are sufficiently long to have several folds each separated by a distance of about 4.4 μm, suggesting that the crystals are helical in solution. The thickness of the crystals varies from 500 to 900 A as shown by heavy-metal shadowing and by measurements of the thickness at the crossover point where an edge-on view of the crystal is obtained.
CFD Simulation of a Meso-Scale Combustor: An Exercise in Verification and Validation

With the simulation of engineering processes via numerical methods on the rise comes the need for a quantitative measure of the agreement between computational results and experimental measurements. The use of quantitative methods in the comparison of the results of numerical and experimental analyses supersedes the traditional qualitative approach. In the present paper, the importance of the role of modeling assumptions in a verification and validation effort is illustrated through a meso-scale combustor example. The various types of uncertainties encountered in the experimentation and numerical simulation are investigated. Through the investigation the initial modeling assumptions proved to be insufficient, producing a comparison error outside of the acceptable range. Thus, the modeling assumptions were sequentially revised, minimizing the comparison error and producing a successful verification and validation effort.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Superior Mesenteric Artery Mycotic Aneurysms— A Case Report:

Mycotic aneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery is an uncommon event usually preceded by a severe infection such as bacterial endocarditis. The authors report one such case successfully treated by resection without need for subsequent revascularization for bowel resection. Previous literature and case reports are reviewed.
Recommender systems and their impact on sales diversity

This paper examines the effect of recommender systems on the diversity of sales. Two anecdotal views exist about such effects. Some believe recommenders help consumers discover new products and thus increase sales diversity. Others believe recommenders only reinforce the popularity of already popular products. This paper is a first attempt to reconcile these seemingly incompatible views. We explore the question in two ways. First, modeling recommender systems analytically allows us to explore their path dependent effects. Second, turning to simulation, we increase the realism of our results by combining choice models with actual implementations of recommender systems. We arrive at three main results. One, some common recommenders lead to a net reduction in average sales diversity. Two, there exists path dependence, and in individual instances the same recommender can either increase or decrease diversity. Three, we show how basic design choices affect the outcome.
Learning design principles for a collaborative information seeking system

While collaboration is a natural choice in many situations, there is a lack of specialized tools for collaboratively seeking information. We present design specifications and implementation of a collaborative information seeking system. We test this system through several pilot studies and cognitive walkthroughs. User interactions and feedback from these studies help us refine our design specifications for a better collaborative information seeking system.
An Offset Vector Iteration Method for Solving Two-Point Boundary-Value Problems

Offset vector iteration method for two point boundary value problems, discussing parameters selection, convergence and computation flow diagram
High-resolution mapping of iso-orientation columns by fMRI

Blood-oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is an important tool for localizing brain functions in vivo. However, the ability of BOLD fMRI to map cortical columnar structures is highly controversial, as the ultimate functional specificity of BOLD remains unknown. Here we report a biphasic BOLD response to visual stimulation in the primary visual cortex of cats. In functional imaging, the initial BOLD signal decrease accurately labeled individual isoorientation columns. In contrast, the delayed positive BOLD changes indicated the pattern of overall activation in the visual cortex, but were less suited to discriminate active from inactive columns.
Flash photolysis of flavins. I. Photoreduction in non-aqueous solvents.

— The photoreduction of riboflavin, FMN, and lumiflavin in a series of hydroxylic solvents has been examined using flash photolysis. A comparison of the relative quantum yields for the photoxidation of several alcohols and esters by lumiflavin demonstrated that the hydroxyl hydrogen of the alcohol is abstracted approximately twice as readily as is the alpha hydrogen. The use of glycerol as both solvent and reductant provided direct evidence that the initial reaction proceeds by a one-electron reduction to form the flavin semi-quinone. In the case of riboflavin (and FMN) the kinetic results are consistent with an initial intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer, analogous to photobleaching in aqueous solution, followed by a reaction of the semi-quinone with the reductant which prevents degradation of the ribityl side-chain. Quenching by iodide indicates that all the reactions proceed via the flavin triplet state, as is the case in aqueous systems.
The Importance of Mast Cells in Dermal Scarring

Significance: Mast cells are resident inflammatory cells present in high numbers in the skin. They are one of the first cell types to respond to damage and they do so by quickly releasing a variety of preformed mediators that are stored within mast cell granules. Mast cells are not only active early on, where they help induce inflammation, but they also stimulate the proliferation of several important cell types and influence the production and remodeling of collagen. Recent Advances: Recent studies have highlighted the importance of mast cells in determining the amount of scar tissue that forms as a result of the repair process. Mast cells are found in low numbers and in a less activated state in scarless wounds, whereas high numbers of activated mast cells are associated with scarring and fibrosis. Furthermore, animals that lack mast cells or have been treated with degranulation inhibitors or drugs that block the activity of mast cell proteases have been shown to heal with reduced scar tissue. Critical Issues: Despite evidence suggesting that mast cells regulate scar tissue development, the entire range of mast cell activities during wound repair and scar formation has not been completely characterized. In addition, the potential therapeutic benefits of targeting mast cells clinically have yet to be fully explored. Future Directions: More studies are needed to determine whether inhibiting mast cell activation and blocking the function of mast cell mediators are viable options to prevent or reduce the appearance of scars.
Synthesis, Stereochemistry, and Reactivity of Group 4 Metal Complexes That Contain a Chiral Tetradentate Diamine-Diamide Ligand

Ti and Zr complexes of the new chiral tetradentate diamine-diamide ligand (Me2PMEN)2- are described (H2(Me2PMEN), 1 = N,N‘-dimethyl-N,N‘-bis[(S)-2-methylpyrrolidine]ethylenediamine). The reaction o...
Revisiting the teachers' lounge: Reflections on emotional experience and teacher identity

Abstract This essay explores the relationship between emotion and teacher identity, using a framework of personal experience and published research from a variety of disciplines. The author argues that an increased awareness of emotional experience serves not only to increase rapport among educators, but also to counteract the persistent dehumanization of the teaching profession in our current sociopolitical context. She highlights the work of other educational scholars to suggest various means by which this awareness can be cultivated in research and teaching practice.
Characterization of dispersed and aggregated Al2O3 morphologies for predicting nanofluid thermal conductivities

Nanofluids are reported to have enhanced thermal conductivities resulting from nanoparticle aggregation. The goal of this study was to explore through experimental measurements, dispersed and aggregated morphology effects on enhanced thermal conductivities for Al2O3 nanoparticles with a primary size of 54.2 ± 2.0 nm. Aggregation effects were investigated by measuring thermal conductivity of different particle morphologies that occurred under different aggregation conditions. Fractal dimensions and aspect ratios were used to quantify the aggregation morphologies. Fractal dimensions were measured using static light scattering and imaging techniques. Aspect ratios were measured using dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Results showed that the enhancements in thermal conductivity can be predicted with effective medium theory when aspect ratio was considered.