cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Public Lands and Political Meaning: Ranchers, the Government, and the Property between Them . By Karen R. Merrill. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2002. Pp. xix, 274. $50.00.

The objective of this book by Karen Merrill is to use the history of public land policy to better understand the political history of the American West since 1870 and the recurring tensions between government, ranchers, and environmentalists. Although the book is aimed primarily at political historians, it is a useful reference for economic historians interested in property rights and land-use regulations.
Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma: Current and Future Status

High-dose melphalan with autologous stem cell support has been an integral part of myeloma therapy for more than 25 years either as salvage therapy or as consolidation of an initial remission. Although multiple phase III trials have demonstrated that this therapy results in higher response rates and longer remission duration than conventional chemotherapy the use of thalidomide, lenalidomide and bortezomib as induction therapy have limited the clinical relevance of these trials. In this manuscript, we will summarize the results of ongoing and recently published clinical trials and describe how they have impacted current transplant recommendations, and their relevance to the treatment of myeloma patients in developing countries.
Precise pointer reasoning for dynamic test generation

Dynamic test generation consists of executing a program while gathering symbolic constraints on inputs from predicates encountered in branch statements, and of using a constraint solver to infer new program inputs from previous constraints in order to steer next executions towards new program paths. Variants of this technique have recently been adopted in several bug detection tools, including our whitebox fuzzer SAGE, which has found dozens of new expensive security-related bugs in many Windows applications and is now routinely used in various Microsoft groups.In this paper, we discuss how to perform precise symbolic pointer reasoning in the context of dynamic test generation. We present a new memory model for representing arbitrary symbolic pointer dereferences to memory regions accessible by a program during its execution, and show that this memory model is the most precise one can hope for in our context, under some realistic assumptions. We also describe how the symbolic constraints generated by our model can be solved using modern SMT solvers, which provide powerful constructs for reasoning about bit-vectors and arrays. This new memory model has been implemented in SAGE, and we present results of experiments with several large Windows applications showing that an increase in precision can often be obtained at a reasonable cost. Better precision in symbolic pointer reasoning means more relevant constraints and fewer imprecise ones, hence better test coverage, more bugs found and fewer redundant test cases.
INTERSECTIONALITY AND SOCIAL EXPLANATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH

To the extent that intersectionality is becoming a common term in mainstream social science, it is as a methodological justification to separate out different racial, ethnic, gender, class, and other social groups for empirical analysis. One might call this the “intersectionality hypothesis,” and in its best incarnation, it is about getting the facts right and finding the differences that matter. But an intersectional analysis in the social sciences often involves more than this. An intersectional approach also leads to potentially different interpretations of the same facts, or what we term a different social explanation. It is not only the intersection of categories that defines an intersectional project, then, but the theoretical framing that informs the analysis and interpretation of the subject under study. This framing often leads to an analysis of multiple and even conflicting social dynamics that enable certain kinds of social understanding that are otherwise invisible when scholars focus on a single set of social dynamics. Because the social theoretical aspects of research on intersectionality are rarely discussed, relative to the more methodological and ontological aspects of intersectionality, this is our main subject matter in this article. We focus on the process of developing social explanations rooted in the intersection of multiple social dynamics in several examples from our own research and across a variety of topics in social science research.
Including importances in OWA aggregations using fuzzy systems modeling

Ordered weighted averaging (OWA) operators are described and are shown to provide a general class of parameterized aggregation operators that include the max, min, and average. We suggest an approach to the inclusion of importances in the OWA operator aggregation technique. The methodology suggested involves a transformation of the scores to be aggregated by their respective importances. We show how we can construct transformation functions with the aid of the fuzzy modeling technology.
Simulation of Through-Wall Microwave Imaging: Forward and Inverse Models

In this paper we use Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) numerical technique and Physical Optics (PO) approximation in conjunction with phase conjugation method, for computation of transmitted field through walls and image formation. Using this model, different refocusing techniques can be investigated. Numerical results for imaging of target behind a solid block wall and cinder block wall are provided.
MatchIt: Nonparametric Preprocessing for Parametric Causal Inference

MatchIt implements the suggestions of Ho, Imai, King, and Stuart (2007) for improving parametric statistical models by preprocessing data with nonparametric matching methods. MatchIt implements a wide range of sophisticated matching methods, making it possible to greatly reduce the dependence of causal inferences on hard-to-justify, but commonly made, statistical modeling assumptions. The software also easily fits into existing research practices since, after preprocessing data with MatchIt , researchers can use whatever parametric model they would have used without MatchIt , but produce inferences with substantially more robustness and less sensitivity to modeling assumptions. MatchIt is an R program, and also works seamlessly with Zelig .
A RETROSPECTIVE COMPARISON OF THE EFFICACY AND TOLERABILITY OF SODIUM HYALURONATE AND HYLAN G-F 20 IN THE TREATMENT OF OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE

This pilot study retrospectively compares the efficacy and side effects reported with sodium hyaluronate and hylan G-F 20 (hylan) in the treatment of knee pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA). Patients responded to a questionnaire that assessed pain at rest, pain with weight bearing, mobility, frequency of night-time awakenings, medication use, and side effects pre- and post-injection of sodium hyaluronate (n = 42) or hylan (n = 57). Pain at rest and with activity, mobility, and night-time awakenings were significantly improved with both treatments. Hylan was significantly better than sodium hyaluronate in improving mobility (p = 0.052), relieving pain with weight bearing (p = 0.017), and reducing frequency of night-time awakenings (p = 0.002). When controlling for baseline pain, the latter two variables (p = 0.03 and 0.005, respectively) remained better with hylan than sodium hyaluronate. Post-injection pain was the predominant side effect (sodium hyaluronate 21%; hylan 18%) and was similar between treatments. While both therapies benefited patients with similar tolerability, patients reported greater efficacy with hylan than sodium hyaluronate in relieving pain with weight bearing, reducing night-time awakenings, and improving mobility in OA of the knee.
The Spitzer Space Telescope: the first 30 months

We provide an overview of the design of the Spitzer Space Telescope and review scientific highlights from the first 30 months of on-orbit operations.
Synthesis of thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) and poly(acrylic acid) block copolymers via post-functionalization of poly(N-methacryloxysuccinimide)

Abstract Polymers exhibiting a thermoresponsive, lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase transition have proven to be useful for many applications as “smart” or “intelligent” materials. A series of poly( N -isopropylmethacrylamide) (PNIPMAM) polymer, poly( N -isopropylmethacrylamide)- b -poly(acrylic acid) (PNIPMAM- b -PAA) diblock, and poly(acrylic acid)- b -poly( N -isopropylmethacrylamide)- b -poly(acrylic acid) (PAA- b -PNIPMAM- b -AA) triblock copolymer samples were synthesized via ATRP. A facile post-functionalization route was developed that uses an activated ester functionality to convert poly( N -methacryloxysuccinimide) (PMASI) blocks to LCST capable polyacrylamide, while poly( t -butyl acrylate) (P t BA) blocks were converted to water-soluble poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). The post-functionalization was monitored via 1 H NMR and ATR-FTIR. The aqueous solution properties were explored and the PNIPMAM polymers were shown to have a LCST phase transition varying from 35 to 60 °C. The ability to synthesize block copolymers that are thermoresponsive and water-soluble will be of great benefit for broader applications in drug delivery, bioengineering, and nanotechnology.
Colorectal Plasmacytomas: A Retrospective Study of Nine Dogs

Nine cases of colorectal plasmacytomas diagnosed between 1998 and 2001 were reviewed. Treatment consisted of complete surgical resection when possible. Two dogs had multiple plasmacytomas. Two dogs had local recurrence of the tumor at 5 and 8 months after resection. Two dogs were alive at 20 and 23 months with no recurrences at the time of follow-up. The median survival time was 15 months (range 5 to 33 months). Colorectal plasmacytomas are similar to mucocutaneous plasmacytomas, in that they tend to progress slowly and do not recur with complete excision.
Sir John Maddox and the ethics of heresy.

On Sunday, April 12, 2009, Sir John Maddox died. Sir John, as the British obituaries called him, was the editor of Nature from 1966 to 1973 and again from 1980 to 1995. Over his 22 years as editor ...
Basic Polymer Chemistry: Thermoplastics

To begin our discussion of polymers we introduce some of the words used to describe different types of polymers. These terms will be used throughout our discussions of this subject, which will be quite detailed. The polymer industry stands out above all others as a consumer of heavy organic chemicals. The U.S. polymer industry produces over 100 billion lb of polymers and 50% of industrial chemists work with polymers. Thus we can see the importance of being acquainted with the polymers used in industry.
Swim training alters sympathoadrenal and endocrine responses to hemorrhage in borderline hypertensive rats

Swim training alters cardiovascular, sympathoadrenal, and endocrine responses to hemorrhage in borderline hypertensive rats (BHR). The effects of 10, 20, and 30% blood volume hemorrhages on cardiovascular, sympathoadrenal, and endocrine function in swim-trained (T; 2 h/day, 5 day/wk for 10-12 wk) and age-matched, untrained, sedentary, control (UT) borderline hypertensive rats (BHR) were assessed. Heart rate (HR) in UT BHR was significantly greater during the baseline (rest) period than T BHR. HR increased slightly from baseline in both groups after 10% hemorrhage but was significantly decreased in both groups after 20 and 30% hemorrhages. The decrease was eliminated by atropine (1 mg/kg iv). Systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures decreased significantly after 20 and 30% hemorrhages in both T and UT BHR but were not different between the groups at these times. Plasma norepinephrine levels were significantly increased above baseline after 20 and 30% hemorrhages in UT BHR and were significantly greater in UT BHR than T BHR after 30% hemorrhage. Plasma glucose levels increased significantly after 30% hemorrhage in both groups but were significantly greater in UT BHR than T BHR. Both plasma norepinephrine and plasma epinephrine levels showed strong positive correlations with plasma glucose. After 20 and 30% hemorrhages, plasma insulin levels were unchanged in T BHR but were significantly decreased in UT BHR. Plasma insulin levels were significantly less in UT than T BHR after 30% hemorrhage. These results suggest that swim training alters the effect that hemorrhage exerts on endocrine and sympathoadrenal function in BHR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Acute psychotic reaction to procaine penicillin

A case of a 23-year old black female admitted for treatment of an acute psychotic episode 48 hours after being treated with i.m. procaine penicillin G is reported. Literature reports of nonallergic psychotic responses to i.m. injections of aqueous procaine penicillin G are reviewed. Possible mechanisms for the reaction are discussed. Recommended drugs for treatment of the reaction include phenobarbital and chlorpromazine.
Dilley, Thomas R.The Art of Memory: Historic Cemeteries of Grand Rapids, Michigan Detroit, MI: Wayne State University Press 280 pp., $39.99 ISBN 978-0-8143-4019-6 Publication Date: September 2014

Thomas R. Dilley's The Art of Memory: Historic Cemeteries of Grand Rapids, Michigan is a work of local history focused on Grand Rapids, Michigan, that seeks to connect this community and the develo...
Labor Unions and Political Mobilization: Diminishing Returns of Repetitious Contact

Voter mobilization by unions has garnered some attention from scholars, and is seen as an important political tool. Unions often mobilize voters repeatedly across several campaigns; however, the literature treats mobilization as a singular event. This paper empirically analyzes turnout of 85,064 registered voters over 14 months at five election intervals in Los Angeles, exploring whether union-led mobilization is subject to diminishing returns across multiple elections. Results indicate that diminishing returns occur; three or more contacts are no more beneficial than one or two. Contact in recent elections is more effective than distant contact, and results differ slightly by contact type.
History in the Mathematics Curriculum: Its Status, Quality, and Function

(1972). History in the Mathematics Curriculum: Its Status, Quality, and Function. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 79, No. 5, pp. 479-495.
Launch Vehicle Ascent Flight Control Augmentation via a Hybrid Adaptive Controller

*† To ensure overall mission success, the ascent flight control system aboard a launch vehicle must be able to accurately track a desired trajectory and maintain stability of the complex vehicle dynamics throughout all phases of operation. In order to preserve stability and improve performance during sufficiently off-nominal flight conditions, a hybrid adaptive control architecture developed at NASA Ames is chosen to augment an existing linear ascent flight control system. This type of adaptive controller, which combines both indirect and direct methods, has not previously been considered for implementation on a launch vehicle. Initially, performance of the hybrid controller alone is validated against published results for a generic transport aircraft. Since the hybrid control architecture utilizes dynamic inversion, equations of motion are then developed which describe the rotational ascent dynamics of a launch vehicle. These equations capture the time-dependence of a number of quantities including inertia, aerodynamic effects, and moments created by the propulsion system. The dynamics are then linearized via small perturbation theory. Output predicted by both the nonlinear and linearized models developed herein is validated against data obtained from a high-fidelity fully nonlinear generic launch vehicle ascent model developed at NASA Marshall. The results show that the nonlinear equations of motion can predict the angular velocity response to a high degree of accuracy while, as expected, there is a loss in precision in the output of the linearized model. However, the adaptive capabilities of the controller will be used to adjust for this dynamic inversion error. In the near future, simulations will be conducted with the hybrid controller in the loop to verify stability and performance of the launch vehicle during flight.
A Survey on Network Security Information Correlation Techniques

The background of the network security information correlation technique is introduced,and the problem that it supposed to solve is clarified.And according to the different methods used in the technique,this paper classifies the methods into four categories:similarity-based analysis,attack-scenario based analysis,causality knowledge based analysis and statical causality based anaylsis.For each category,the basic idea and the existing techniques are introduced and analyzed,and the unsolved problems are pointed out.The development direction and future works are analyzed.
Relative Importance of N-Nitrosodimethylamine Compared to Total N-Nitrosamines in Drinking Waters

A U.S.-wide occurrence survey conducted as part of the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 2 found that N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) was present in 34% of chloraminated drinking water samples but was the most prevalent of the six N-nitrosamines evaluated using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 521. If the U.S. EPA considers limiting exposures to N-nitrosamines as a group, a critical question is whether NDMA is the most prevalent N-nitrosamine or whether significant concentrations occur for N-nitrosamines other than those captured by EPA Method 521. A total N-nitrosamine assay was developed and applied to 36 drinking water plant effluents or distribution system samples from 11 utilities, including 9 utilities that practiced chloramination for secondary disinfection. Concurrent application of EPA Method 521 indicated that NDMA was the most prevalent of the Method 521 N-nitrosamines yet accounted for ∼5% of the total N-nitrosamine pool on a median basis. Among eight plant influent waters...
Causally-Rich Group Play: A Powerful Context for Building Preschoolers' Vocabulary.

This work explores whether the facilitative effect of causal information on preschoolers’ word learning observed in the laboratory might be relevant to boosting children’s vocabulary in a group-play context. Forty-eight 3- to 4-year-old children learned six novel words for novel tools introduced during a small group-play session. Half of the groups used the tools according to their specified function to construct a fruit salad. The remaining children used the same tools to decorate a castle of blocks. In this way, some children learned about the causal properties of the tools, while others did not. Although children in both conditions comprehended the novel words equally well when tested shortly after the play session, learning in the Causal condition was more robust. Children’s comprehension scores in the Causal condition increased over time (a 7-20 day delay), such that children in this group performed better than children in the Non-Causal condition when tested in a follow-up session. These results demonstrate a striking benefit of causal enrichment to word learning in a context that could feasibly be implemented in preschool classrooms, playgroups, and individual households. Highlighting the causal properties of objects during playtime might offer a powerful approach to building children’s vocabulary, thereby providing a stronger foundation for early literacy and success in school more generally speaking.
Payment of Medical Providers and the Public Provision of Medical Care

In all countries, governments provide assistance to citizens in paying for medical services. The form of this assistance varies widely, from full public provision (financing) and public production, in some countries, to subsidies to private insurance purchases for non-poor persons combined with public provision and/or production for poor persons, in others. In all cases the public sector has the ability to influence the quantities and the prices paid for medical services. Direct governmental control of or influence on prices paid to providers is not utilized in all circumstances, but such control or influence is almost always possible.
Combining Admission and Modulation Decisions for Wireless Embedded Systems

Wireless communication is increasingly being used to federate embedded devices in a variety of distributed systems application domains, ranging from wireless sensor networks to the emerging "Internet of Things (IoT)." Since such embedded devices are tightly coupled both with their environments and with each other through their wireless communication channels, both variations in their environments and the system's need to respond (sometimes rapidly) to those variations may produce (1) the need for such devices to communicate and (2) with it the potential for channel contention to arise, dynamically at run-time. Thus, how wireless channels among the embedded devices are allocated and managed in these systems may significantly influence both communication-specific quality-of-service (QoS) properties (such as message throughput) and broader QoS properties (such as timeliness of system responsiveness) that depend on them. A growing body of research has focused on managing different aspects of wireless communication, but has done so mainly in an ad hoc manner, with respect to individual aspects rather than multiple aspects and their potential interactions. Even less attention has been paid to formal methods for assessing how combinations of aspects may influence communication performance, and how to characterize, adapt to, and exploit their combined effects, which is essential to address the challenges noted above. To overcome these limitations of the current state of the art, this paper makes three main contributions to wireless communication for distributed embedded systems with QoS constraints. First, it shows how a basic but fundamental set of channel admission and modulation decisions can be combined within a single Markov decision process (MDP) model to optimize (in expectation) objectives such as message throughput, even with stochastic arrival and interference characteristics. Second, it identifies regular structure in the value-optimal policies generated off-line from these models, which forms the basis for efficient and accurate heuristics suitable for on-line use. Third, it shows how single-and multi-variable regression techniques can be used to characterize key parameters that govern such regular structure, which then are used to instantiate those heuristics.
Thoughts About Greg Curt

The life of Greg Curt is recollected through personal and professional memories. He is remembered for a distinguished career, including the creation of Project Data Sphere, and for his diplomatic skills, bringing together government, industry partners, and academia to initiate collaborative trials.
Fluorescence fluctuation analysis of BACE1-GFP fusion protein in cultured HEK293 cells

Beta-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) is a type I transmembrane aspartyl protease. In the amyloidogenic pathway, BACE1 provides β-secretase activity that cleaves the amyloid precursor protein (APP) that leads to amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides. The aggregation of these Aβ will ultimately results in amyloid plaque formation, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Amyloid aggregation leads to progressive memory impairment and neural loss. Recent detergent protein extraction studies suggest that the untreated BACE1 protein forms a dimer that has significantly higher catalytic activity than its monomeric counterpart. Here, we examine the dimerization hypothesis of BACE1 in cultured HEK293 cells using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). Cells were transfected with a BACE1-EGFP fusion protein construct and imaged using confocal and DIC microscopy to monitor labeled BACE1 localization and distribution within the cell. Our one-photon fluorescence fluctuation autocorrelation of BACE1- EGFP on the plasma membrane of HEK cells is modeled using two diffusing species on the plasma membrane with estimated diffusion coefficients of 1.39 x 10-7 cm2/sec and 2.8 x 10-8 cm2/sec under resting conditions and STA-200 inhibition, respectively. Anomalous diffusion model also provided adequate description of the observed autocorrelation function of BACE1- EGFP on the plasma membrane with an estimate exponent (α) of 0.8 and 0.5 for resting and STA-200 treated cells, respectively. The corresponding hydrodynamic radius of this transmembrane fusion protein was estimated using the measured diffusion coefficients assuming both Stokes-Einstein and Saffman-Delbruck models. Our results suggest a complex diffusion pattern of BACE1-EGFP on the plasma membrane of HEK cells with the possibility for dimer formation, especially under STA-200 inhibition.
Future Trends in Vascular Access Creation

Delivery of a prescribed dialysis dose, which is critical for longevity on hemodialysis, is directly dependent on vascular access (VA). However, VA is fraught with high failure rates and has room for innovation. Arteriovenous fistula (AVF), considered the 'best choice', has a high 'failure to mature' rate. Arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) are considered when patients are poor candidates for or have failed AVF, but have a high incidence of infections and thrombosis. Due to associated morbidity and mortality from complications, central venous catheters are considered only as 'bridging short-term access' when there is an urgent need for dialysis. The observation from current data that there is a significant center effect in the rate of AVF maturation supports investigation to identify factors that contribute to success in high-performing centers that create AVF and establish 'best practice' approaches to improve outcomes. Biocompatible AVG constructs that promote rapid tissue incorporation withstand needle punctures due to better integrity and can improve current AVG outcomes. Stenosis in the 'access circuit' is a major cause for short- and long-term permanent access failure. While the pathology of stenosis development is well understood, factors responsible for this problem are poorly studied. Increased flow in the access circuit likely plays a major role in the development of such stenosis. Investigation into understanding the hemodynamics of this flow may help identify etiology and stenosis sites perhaps even prior to the event, thus providing potential targets to mitigate the stenotic response. In summary, this chapter reflects on the shortcomings of current access modalities and discusses potential avenues to improve VA outcomes in the future.
Hepatic lipid metabolism and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in aging

Aging is associated with dysregulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. Various factors that contribute to the dysregulation include both modifiable (e.g. obesity, insulin resistance) and non-modifiable risk factors (age-associated physiologic changes). Although there is no linear relationship between aging and prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, current data strongly suggests that advanced age leads to more severe histological changes and poorer clinical outcomes. Hepatic lipid accumulation could lead to significant hepatic and systemic consequences including steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, impairment of systemic glucose metabolism and metabolic syndrome, thereby contributing to age-related diseases. Insulin, leptin and adiponectin are key regulators of the various physiologic processes that regulate hepatic lipid metabolism. Recent advances have expanded our understanding in this field, highlighting the role of novel mediators such as FGF 21, and mitochondria derived peptides. In this review, we will summarize the mediators of hepatic lipid metabolism and how they are altered in aging.
Efficient Wireless Power Charging of Electric Vehicle by Modifying the Magnetic Characteristics of the Transmitting Medium

There is a developing enthusiasm for electric vehicle (EV) innovations because of their lower fuel utilization and greenhouse emission output. Integrating EVs with highway wireless power transfer (WPT) technology can appropriately reduce charging time and possibly expand their travel distance. There are several issues with the current WPT technology for EVs: 1) low efficiency due to large coil-coil distance and 2) slow charging time. Two ideas are proposed in this paper to increase system efficiency: 1) using a modified cement for covering the transmitting antenna area and 2) using high frequency wide bandgap switches, which can transfer a high amount of power in a short time. The optimization study of the receiving and transmitting coils is implemented with and without a core through 3-D finite-element analysis. The physics-based analysis is coupled with circuit-based analysis for utilizing high frequencies wide bandgap switch (SiC MOSFET). On the material side, the electromagnetic and mechanical properties of the modified cementitious composite are characterized and the results show significant improvement in the system efficiency.
Abstract 072: TRIF-Pathway of Innate Immune Responses Mediates Angiotensin II Hypertension

We tested the role of two distinct adaptors of toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling on Ang II-induced hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy. These TLR adaptors, myeloid differentiation protein 88 (MyD88) and TIR domain-containing adaptor inducing interferon β (TRIF) facilitate distinct inflammatory signaling pathways. In an earlier study, we reported that MyD88-/- mice are protected from cardiac hypertrophy and pro-inflammatory gene expression after myocardial infarction. Our current results with 3 weeks infusion of Ang II (3000 ng/kg/min) vs. saline indicate that in MyD88-/- mice, the pressor response to Ang II and cardiac hypertrophy were increased more than in wild type (WT) mice. In Ang II-infused WT, systolic blood pressure (SBP) peaked at 147 ± 4 mmHg whereas in Ang II-infused MyD88-/- mice SBP reached a peak value of 163 ± 6 mmHg. However, in mice with non-functional TRIF adaptor mutant (Trifmut), SBP did not increase during Ang II infusion and remained similar to the SBP in saline-infused mice (115 ± 3 mmHg). Baseline SBP was not different among WT, MyD88-/- and Trifmut mice. The increase in heart weight to body weight ratio (HW/BW) between saline and Ang II-infused mice was greater in MyD88-/- mice than WT mice (60% increase in MyD88-/- vs. 40% increase in WT), whereas it was less in Trifmut mice (22% increase). Accordingly, expression of several inflammatory genes (Tnfa, Nox4 and Agtr1a) was significantly greater (P< 0.05) in the heart and kidney of Ang II-infused MyD88-/- mice compared with Ang II-infused WT mice, whereas expression of these genes in Trifmut mice was either unchanged or reduced. We conclude that- (1) Ang II-induced hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy and inflammatory gene expression are mediated by activation of a TRIF-dependent pathway, but not by the MyD88-dependent pathways, and (2) Enhanced Ang II effects on SBP and hypertrophy in MyD88-/- mice suggest that MyD88 may serve as a negative regulator of the TRIF pathway in Ang II-induced hypertension. Selective targeting of these adaptor proteins may have significant therapeutic implications.
Teoria dell’inversione statistica

Sotto questa dizione vanno quei metodi di inversione statistica che permettono di riformulare il problema inverso in termini di richiesta di informazioni per via statistica. La finalita dell’inversione statistica e quella di estrarre delle informazioni e valutare le incertezze attorno alle variabili sulla base delle nostre conoscenze disponibili sia per quanto riguarda i processi di misura sia i modelli delle incognite che sono disponibili a priori ([57]).
An investigation of the effects of a school-based intervention on feelings of personal expressiveness in multi-problem adolescent youth

OF THE THESIS AN INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF A SCHOOL-BASED INTERVENTION ON FEELINGS OF PERSONAL EXPRESSIVENESS IN MULTI-PROBLEM ADOLESCENT YOUTH by Richard E. Albrecht Florida International University, 2005 Miami, Florida Professor William M. Kurtines, Major Professor This study was conducted to determine the effects of the Changing Lives Program intervention on troubled adolescents' feelings of personal expressiveness, believed to be one domain of positive identity development. Forty-three intervention and twenty nonintervention comparison control participants were given a battery of pre-, post-, and follow-up assessments including the Personally Expressive Questionnaire (Waterman, 1995), which was used to derive participants' feelings of personal expressiveness scores. Using Repeated Measures Analysis of Multivariate Analysis (RMANOVA), a significant four-way interaction of Time X Condition X Gender X Ethnicity was found relative to the Control, Roy's 0 = .166, F(2,47) = 3.899, p < .027 indicating that intervention participants' feelings of personal expressiveness did increase significantly relative to the control group. Furthermore, the results suggest differential outcomes based on ethnicity, suggesting the need for future study with respect to specificity of effects and mechanisms of identity formation in differing ethnic subgroups.
Macrophysical properties of continental cumulus clouds from active and passive remote sensing

Cloud amount is an essential and extensively used macrophysical parameter of cumulus clouds. It is commonly defined as a cloud fraction (CF) from zenith-pointing ground-based active and passive remote sensing. However, conventional retrievals of CF from the remote sensing data with very narrow field-of-view (FOV) may not be representative of the surrounding area. Here we assess its representativeness using an integrated dataset collected at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program's Southern Great Plains (SGP) site in Oklahoma, USA. For our assessment with focus on selected days with single-layer cumulus clouds (2005-2016), we include the narrow-FOV ARM Active Remotely Sensed Clouds Locations (ARSCL) and large-FOV Total Sky Imager (TSI) cloud products, the 915-MHz Radar Wind Profiler (RWP) measurements of wind speed and direction, and also high-resolution satellite images from Landsat and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). We demonstrate that the root-mean-square difference (RMSD) between the 15-min averaged ARSCL cloud fraction (CF) and the 15-min averaged TSI fractional sky cover (FSC) is large (up to 0.3). We also discuss how the horizontal distribution of clouds can modify the obtained large RMSD using a new uniformity metric. The latter utilizes the spatial distribution of the FSC over the 100° FOV TSI images obtained with high temporal resolution (30 sec sampling). We demonstrate that cases with more uniform spatial distribution of FSC show better agreement between the narrow-FOV CF and large-FOV FSC, reducing the RMSD by up to a factor of 2.
Genomics in childhood acute myeloid leukemia comes of age.

A Children's Oncology Group study of nearly 1,000 pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases reveals marked differences between the genomic landscapes of pediatric and adult AML and offers directions for future work.
Longitudinal trends in skin-related and global quality of life among women with breast radiodermatitis: A pilot study.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the relationship between skin-related quality of life (SR-QOL) and global quality of life (G-QOL) among women experiencing breast radiodermatitis, measure change in SR-QOL and G-QOL between the start and fifth week on radiotherapy, and examine the trend in SR-QOL and severity of radiodermatitis over time on treatment. Methods A descriptive longitudinal study using repeated measurements was implemented. Forty women undergoing whole breast 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy at a comprehensive community cancer center completed the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) weekly and Quality of Life-Breast Cancer Patient Version at baseline before and at five weeks on radiotherapy. Skin toxicity was measured weekly using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) Acute Radiation Morbidity Scoring Criteria-Skin scale. A Kendall's tau correlation explored the relationship between measures of SR-QOL and G-QOL. Paired t-tests measured the change in SR-QOL and G-QOL from baseline to fifth week on radiotherapy. The mean of the baseline and weekly total DLQI and RTOG scores was calculated and plotted on a graph. Results In general, SR-QOL and G-QOL were highly correlated. SR-QOL changed profoundly (p Conclusions Radiation-induced skin toxicity has a major impact on SR-QOL but not G-QOL. This study provides much-needed scientific evidence to inform a larger future study in a community setting. Recommendations for future studies include inclusion of a skin-sensitive survey of radiodermatitis; larger, more diverse community-dwelling sample.
Comparisons of modern U. S. and Canadian malting barley cultivars with those from pre-prohibition: III. Wort sugar production during mashing.

ABSTRACTWort sugars produced during Congress mashing of pre-Prohibition and modern barley genotypes were compared. Four of five modern cultivars were higher (P < 0.0001) in wort glucose production than six pre-Prohibition cultivars. Mean wort glucose levels of the five modern cultivars were higher (P values from 0.0002 to 0.0021) than that of the pre-Prohibition barleys. In contrast, maltose production was variable and there were no significant differences in mean levels in modern versus pre-Prohibition barley worts, although Manchuria (pre-Prohibition) and Tradition (modern) produced higher (P < 0.0001) levels than other genotypes. Wort maltotriose levels were also quite variable among genotypes, although were higher (P < 0.0001) in Harrington (modern) worts than all others at the end of mashing. By the end of mashing, pre-Prohibition and modern genotypes did not statistically differ in their mean levels of maltotriose (P = 0.514). Glucose equivalents from fermentable sugars (i.e., total glucose from glu...
Control of Acetylcholine Synthesis in Motor Nerve Terminals

This chapter is a summary of work published or in the final stages of publication done in this laboratory on the regulation of ACh synthesis in motor nerve terminals (2, 20, 21). Most of the present knowledge concerning transmitter release processes in nerve terminals is derived from electrophysiological investigations of the neuromuscular junction (11). ACh is secreted, probably by exocytosis from some protected compartment in the nerve terminals (most likely synaptic vesicles) (12, and Macintosh, this volume), in which it is stored after being locally synthesized. Choline (Ch), the substrate for ACh synthesis, is taken up from the plasma by a carrier-mediated mechanism (6). Previous investigations utilizing the rat diaphragm preparation showed that the small accumulation of Ch by nerve terminals could not be studied directly because more of the Ch was taken up by non-neural cells (3, 15). This is unfortunate because it has been shown that synaptosomes isolated from regions of the brain rich in cholinergic nerve terminals take up Ch via a sodium-dependent high affinity uptake system (SDHACU (1, 8, 10, 23). It would thus be highly advantageous to be able to study this process in a peripheral system in which physiological experiments could be carried out.
The Presentation of Self in the Information Age

The paper analyzes what it means to be personally identified in markets in an age of ubiquitous database technology, digital monitoring and unobtrusive surveillance, as a basis for conjectures about strategies for identity management by consumers and by firms. Identity is defined. Four levels of customer identification are distinguished, transitory, persistent, role-specific and self-expressive identification. We discuss implications of each for consumer behavior and the operation of markets.
Wellbeing, Freedom, and Social Justice: The Capability Approach Re-Examined

Amartya Sen initially introduced a focus on capabilities in the context of debates about how to interpret a normative commitment to distributive equality (Sen 1982). Not long thereafter, he began a...
Assessment of Heart Failure in Diabetes Cardiovascular Outcomes Trials: Is What We Are Currently Capturing Adequate?

Since the 2008 FDA guidance restructuring the design of trials for the approval of novel glucose-lowering agents, 13 medications have now been evaluated by dedicated cardiovascular outcome trials. All of the completed trials have included data (though with varying definitions) on rates of hospitalization for heart failure. This review is aimed at summarizing current heart failure outcome data available from cardiovascular safety trials for novel glucose-lowering agents in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. There appears to be growing evidence for the benefit of sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and there are still not enough data to fully support the safety of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists in heart failure. Increased rates of hospitalization for heart failure were seen with both saxagliptin and alogliptin, and this has led to a class warning for all dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors. Future studies should have a standardized definition of “hospitalization for heart failure,” should consider including hospitalization for heart failure as a component of the primary composite endpoint, and should provide a more detailed description of the baseline characteristics of enrolled study participants with heart failure.
A porcine xenograft-derived bone scaffold is a biocompatible bone graft substitute: An assessment of cytocompatibility and the alpha-Gal epitope.

Background Xenografts are an attractive alternative to traditional bone grafts because of the large supply from donors with predictable morphology and biology as well as minimal risk of human disease transmission. Clinical series involving xenograft bone transplantation, most commonly from bovine sources, have reported poor results with frequent graft rejection and failure to integrate with host tissue. Failures have been attributed to residual alpha-Gal epitope in the xenograft which humans produce natural antibody against. To the authors' knowledge, there is currently no xenograft-derived bone graft substitute that has been adopted by orthopedic surgeons for routine clinical use. Methods In the current study, a bone scaffold intended to serve as a bone graft substitute was derived from porcine cancellous bone using a tissue decellularization and chemical oxidation protocol. In vitro cytocompatibility, pathogen clearance, and alpha-Gal quantification tests were used to assess the safety of the bone scaffold intended for human use. Results In vitro studies showed the scaffold was free of processing chemicals and biocompatible with mouse and human cell lines. When bacterial and viral pathogens were purposefully added to porcine donor tissue, processing successfully removed these pathogens to comply with sterility assurance levels established by allograft tissue providers. Critically, 98.5% of the alpha-Gal epitope was removed from donor tissue after decellularization as shown by ELISA inhibition assay and immunohistochemical staining. Conclusions The current investigation supports the biologic safety of bone scaffolds derived from porcine donors using a decellularization protocol that meets current sterility assurance standards. The majority of the highly immunogenic xenograft carbohydrate was removed from donor tissue, and these findings support further in vivo investigation of xenograft-derived bone tissue for orthopedic clinical application.
Simple Spline Representation for Identifying Sit-to-Stand Strategies

Standing from a seated position is an activity of daily living and a common clinical test of strength and balance. While this action is well-studied biomechanically, there remains a need for a clear modelling method for appropriately capturing performance and discriminating between standing strategies. This paper presents a simple framework for representing the rise from a chair as a set of splines. This formulation is inherently differentiable, defines a clear start and end point of the motion, and allows for secondary analysis of dynamic and energetic effects. This method is tested on two healthy subjects performing four different standing strategies. The spline method was found to accurately capture the standing action, with mean absolute errors of 1-2 cm for joint position, and 2-3 degrees angular error across the different standing strategies. Analysis of the spline trajectories revealed strategy-specific differences in kinematic, kinetic, and dynamic bio-markers. This suggests that low order splines can be used to accurately capture variations in sit-to-stand actions.
Overexpression of corticotropin-releasing factor in the nucleus accumbens enhances the reinforcing effects of nicotine in intact female versus male and ovariectomized female rats

This study assessed the role of stress systems in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in promoting sex differences in the reinforcing effects of nicotine. Intravenous self-administration (IVSA) of various doses of nicotine was compared following overexpression of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the NAc of female and male rats. Ovariectomized (OVX) females were also included to assess the role of ovarian hormones in promoting nicotine reinforcement. Rats received intra-NAc administration of an adeno-associated vector that overexpressed CRF (AAV2/5-CRF) or green fluorescent protein (AAV2/5-GFP). All rats were then given extended access (23 h/day) to an inactive and an active lever that delivered nicotine. Separate groups of rats received intra-NAc AAV2/5-CRF and saline IVSA. Rats were also allowed to nose-poke for food and water during IVSA testing. At the end of the study, the NAc was dissected and rt-qPCR methods were used to estimate CRF overexpression and changes in CRF receptors (CRFr1, CRFr2) and the CRF receptor internalizing protein, β-arrestin2 (Arrb2). Overexpression of CRF in the NAc increased nicotine IVSA to a larger extent in intact female versus male and OVX females. Food intake was increased to a larger extent in intact and OVX females as compared to males. The increase in CRF gene expression was similar across all groups; however, in females, overexpression of CRF resulted in a larger increase in CRFr1 and CRFr2 relative to males. In males, overexpression of CRF produced a larger increase in Arrb2 than females, suggesting greater CRF receptor internalization. Our results suggest that stress systems in the NAc promote the reinforcing effectiveness of nicotine in female rats in an ovarian hormone-dependent manner.
Future water resource shifts in the high desert Southwest of Northern New Mexico, USA

Abstract Study Region This study focuses on the headwaters of the Upper Rio Grande basin, the Pajarito Plateau, northern New Mexico, USA. Study Focus Our work examines 2050s water balance changes using the INFIL hydrologic model run under different downscaled earth system model (ESM) projections to simulate impacts on runoff, infiltration, and overall water regime shifts. New Hydrological Insights for the Region Climate change is shifting the water balance in the high desert of the US Southwest. Across the Pajarito Plateau, increases in temperature and changing precipitation form and delivery result in increased rain during winter, spring and fall, and decreased snow during winter (47 % less snow is projected to fall). ESM projections of summer rainfall vary, with increases and decreases possible. High elevation recharge zones exhibit increased runoff and infiltration, but across the region aridity also increases due to warmer temperatures. This dichotomy illustrates the complexities in regional responses that occur across time and space, and require a firm understanding to mitigate impacts on the region’s ability to sustainably manage water resources within the next 30 years.