cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Risk of bleeding after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG)

Background Patients who undergo percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement are often on anticoagulation and/or antiplatelet therapy with a potential thromboembolic risk if these medications are discontinued. Data on the safety of peri-procedural use of these drugs is limited.
The three-dimensional aspect of mammalian lung multilamellar bodies

Abstract The three-dimensional aspect of rat and monkey lung multilamellar bodies was demonstrated in lipid retained thin sections. The glutaraldehyde and urea lipid retention embedment and an Epon 812 resin polar dehydrant procedure were utilized to retain lamellar lipids for precise morphological study. The unextracted multilamellar bodies were found to conform to a general, though complex, threedimensional structure. A model that demonstrated that structure was derived. Freezeetch and extracted material were shown to support the model. Mature multilamellar bodies were from 1.2–1.6 μ in diameter and were 1.0–1.6 μ high. Each body contained a matrix core that included from 2–25 vesicular bodies and was in contact with the limiting membrane at the matrix plate. Most bodies had from 25–70 lamellae attached for 360 ° to the projection plate. Microtubules were seen in communication with the matrix core. When sectioned in longitudinal section, lamellae projected from the base plate and coursed parallel to the limiting membrane of the top half of the body. Any cross-section produced circular lamellae without apparent attachment. Oblique sections sometimes produced both ‘stacked’ and ‘circular’ lamellae. Four postulates of multilamellar body formation were discussed in light of these findings.
Solitary Common Iliac Artery Inflammatory Aneurysm in a Healthy Woman: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Inflammatory aneurysms represent only 3-10% of all aortoiliac aneurysms and tend to be more common in men. We report a case of a solitary inflammatory aneurysm of the right common iliac artery in a healthy young woman. The patient presented with persistent abdominal and right flank pain. She had no risk factors for vascular disease, except mild hypertension and a strong family history of aneurysm disease. Her work-up demonstrated a 3.0 cm right common iliac artery aneurysm with intramural thrombus, focal calcification, and perianeurysmal inflammation without evidence of systemic atherosclerosis. There was right hydroureteronephrosis secondary to ureteral compression by the inflammatory aneurysm. She underwent open right common iliac artery aneurysmorraphy with polytetrafluoroethylene interposition graft and concomitant ureterolysis without complication. She remains asymptomatic more than 1 year postoperatively with no evidence of additional aneurysm disease, resolution of her hydroureteronephrosis, and normal kidney function. We report a rare case of a solitary inflammatory aneurysm of the right common iliac artery in a healthy young woman, with a review of the current literature on inflammatory aneurysms.
Melanoma cells express elevated levels of phosphorylated histone H2AX foci.

When human cells sustain a DNA double-strand break (dsb), histone H2AX in chromatin surrounding the DNA break is phosphorylated, marking repair foci. The number of phosphorylated histone H2AX (γH2AX) foci approximates the number of dsb present in the cell's nuclear DNA. We observed 0.4 γH2AX foci per nucleus in primary human melanocytes. In contrast, in four melanoma cell lines, we detected 7–17 γH2AX foci per nucleus, a 17–42 times increase in the basal level of γH2AX foci in melanoma cells relative to melanocytes (MC). Thus, untreated melanoma cells express significantly greater numbers of γH2AX foci than do untreated MC. Detection and rejoining of ionizing radiation-induced DNA dsb proceeded as rapidly in melanoma cells as in MC. Melanoma cells, however, reduced the number of radiation-induced γH2AX foci down only to pre-irradiation levels. Co-localization of the majority of γH2AX foci with ataxia telangiectasia mutated, BRCA1, 53BP1, and Nbs1 foci in untreated melanoma cells indicated that the additional foci in melanoma cells were associated with a DNA change that the cells interpret as DNA dsb. Co-localization of γH2AX foci with the telomere replication factor 1 protein in untreated melanoma cells indicates that the additional foci in untreated melanoma cells are associated with dysfunctional telomeres that induce a DNA damage stress response.
Soviet law and the emigration of Soviet Jews

(1973). Soviet law and the emigration of Soviet Jews. Soviet Jewish Affairs: Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 3-19.
Shape from contour methods using object-based heuristics

Recovering the 3D shape of an object from its 2D image contour is an important problem in computer vision. This paper begins with a survey and critique of some of the previous shape from contour methods that have been proposed. The author then develops two object-based heuristics and uses them to recover shape constraints from contour. The basic assumption guiding these object-based heuristics is that objects tend to be highly structured and can be parametrized with respect to an object-centered, orthogonal coordinate system. The structured nature of objects is the motivation for the non-accidental alignment criterion: parallel lines within the object's bounding contour are significant and are related to the 3D object-centered coordinate system. The regularity and symmetry inherent in many man-made objects, coupled with a human preference for an orthogonal perceptual space, is the motivation for the orthogonal basis constraint: an oblique set of coordinate axes in the image is presumed to be the projection of an orthogonal set of coordinate axes in the scene. These object-based heuristic methods are demonstrated on both real and synthetic image contours.
Functional and phylogenetic diversity as predictors of biodiversity–ecosystem‐function relationships

How closely does variability in ecologically important traits reflect evolutionary divergence? The use of phylogenetic diversity (PD) to predict biodiversity effects on ecosystem functioning, and more generally the use of phylogenetic information in community ecology, depends in part on the answer to this question. However, comparisons of the predictive power of phylogenetic diversity and functional diversity (FD) have not been conducted across a range of experiments. To address how phylogenetic diversity and functional trait variation control biodiversity effects on biomass production, we summarized the results of 29 grassland plant experiments where both the phylogeny of plant species used in the experiments is well described and where extensive trait data are available. Functional trait variation was only partially related to phylogenetic distances between species, and the resulting FD values therefore correlate only partially with PD. Despite these differences, FD and PD predicted biodiversity effects across all experiments with similar strength, including in subsets that excluded plots with legumes and that focused on fertilization experiments. Two- and three- trait combinations of the five traits used here (leaf nitrogen percentage, height, specific root length, leaf mass per unit area, and nitrogen fixation) resulted in the FD values with the greatest predictive power. Both PD and FD can be valuable predictors of the effect of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning, which suggests that a focus on both community trait diversity and evolutionary history can improve understanding of the consequences of biodiversity loss.
Altered cyclic-AMP receptor activity and morphogenesis in a chemosensory mutant of Dictyostelium discoideum

The functional properties of the cell-surface cyclic-AMP receptor that controls chemotaxis were found to be altered in an aggregation mutant of Dictyostelium discoideum. The mutant aggregated without stream formation and had a tenfold increased cell-density requirement for the initiation of aggregation. After aggregation, mounds formed multiple tips and subsequently subdivided to give multiple fruits that were small and abnormally proportioned. Cyclic-AMP-induced light-scattering changes in cell suspensions indicated that the mutant had a diminished response to external cyclic-AMP signals. Associated with these altered functional responses was a physical change in the cyclic-AMP sensory system. Cyclic-AMP-binding studies showed that the parent had two classes of cyclic-AMP binding sites, i.e., Kd = 32 and 110 nM. In contrast, the mutant had two- to threefold or more high-affinity sites (Kd = 25 nM) and altered low-affinity sites (Kd less than 3 microM). These results indicate that both affinity classes of binding site are independently mutable. This observation suggests that the two affinity classes can be interconverted by mutation, or the mutation alters a single molecular species and its equilibrium between binding sites with different affinities for cyclic AMP, as postulated in receptor cycling models.
The Shop Floor Schopenhauer: Hope for a Theory-X Supervisor

Douglas McGregor's description of theory X has considerable staying power. Supervisors still regard employees as lazy, selfish, and indifferent. A 19th-century philosopher named Arthur Schopenhauer began from similar assumptions about human nature, and yet, despite being called the philosopher of pessimism, he came to realize that such assumptions can lead to a humane ethic of empathy. Maybe theory X gets a bum rap.
Convergence of the weak dual greedy algorithm in L p -spaces

We prove that the weak dual greedy algorithm converges in any subspace of a quotient of Lp when 1 < p < ∞.
A randomized prospective comparison of MALG with OKT3 for rescue therapy of acute myocardial rejection.

Although initial rescue is significantly better with OKT3, final resolution is the same in both groups. Since there was a significant incidence of life-threatening infections (7/14) leading to 4 deaths with OKT3 treatment, we recommend MALG for rescue therapy of refractory acute myocardial rejection if this immunosuppressive regimen is to be used
Vaginal mesh extrusion associated with use of mentor transobturator sling

Abstract Objectives To describe my experience of vaginal mesh extrusion using the monofilament polypropylene transobturator sling, the Mentor ObTape. The Mentor ObTape was the first transobturator sling developed as an alternative to the retropubic commercially available suburethral slings for providing mid-urethral support as treatment of female stress urinary incontinence. Methods Thirty patients underwent transobturator suburethral sling placement for anatomic stress urinary incontinence using the ObTape from October 2003 to January 2005. A retrospective chart review was performed to retrieve data on the safety, efficacy, complications, and outcomes using this product. Results Six patients (20%) to date have presented with defective vaginal healing manifested by extrusion of the sling material. Five patients required surgical removal of the sling material, and one underwent a trial of conservative management. No urethral erosions were noted. Conclusions In my experience, the Mentor ObTape sling, which uses a nonwoven, minimally elastic, micropore, monofilament polypropylene mesh, incurs an unacceptably high rate of defective vaginal wound healing and mesh extrusion.
Central angiotensin II has catabolic action at white and brown adipose tissue.

Considerable evidence implicates the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the regulation of energy balance. To evaluate the role of the RAS in the central nervous system regulation of energy balance, ...
Parallel Processor Core for Semantic Search Engines

Superior and fast semantic comparison improves the quality of web-search. Semantic comparison involves dot product computation of large sparse tensors which is time consuming and expensive. In this paper we present a low power parallel architecture that consumes only 15.41 Watts and demonstrates a speed-up in the order of 10textsuperscript{5} compared to a contemporary hardware design, and in the order of 10textsuperscript{4} compared to a purely software approach. Such high performance low power architecture can be used in semantic routers to elegantly implement energy efficient distributed search engines.
Elementary School Teachers and Mathematics: Communities of Practice and an Opportunity for Change

This paper investigates the transformation of new elementary teachers in their understanding of mathematics in relation to pedagogy and learning. By participating in an intentionally created community of practice, new elementary school teachers, began to connect to mathematics in new ways: reflectively, confidently, and inquisitively. Analysis focused on data from teacher reflections, observations, group meetings, and revealed communities of practice in which an increased confidence with mathematics and teaching mathematics developed. Through the course of the community of practice, the participants began to think of themselves as mathematics teachers, mainly through their ability to reflect, question, and take ownership of their practice.
New‐Onset Orthostatic Intolerance Following Bariatric Surgery

Background As bariatric surgery has become an increasingly popular treatment for obesity, we have seen an increasing number of patients present after bariatric surgery with new-onset syncope, near-syncope, and lightheadedness. Methods We retrospectively reviewed patients who had had bariatric surgery referred to our institution for evaluation of orthostatic intolerance. We reviewed history, physical examination, type of bariatric surgery procedure, and tilt table test results in these patients. There were 14 women and one man with mean age 42 +/- 6 years, preoperative body mass index was 49.3 +/- 6.0 kg/m(2), and mean postoperative weight loss was 55.9 kg. Mean onset of symptoms was 5.2 +/- 3.9 months after surgery. Presenting symptoms were lightheadedness in 15 (100%), near-syncope in 11 (73%), and syncope in nine (60%). All but one patient had a positive tilt table test with eight (53%) having a neurocardiogenic response, three (20%) having a dysautonomic response, and (20%) having a postural tachycardia response. The likely mechanism of orthostatic intolerance is autonomic insufficiency in combination with reverse course of obesity-related hypertension. The majority of the patients (12 out of 15) responded to standard therapy for autonomic insufficiency. Conclusion Some patients may develop significant orthostatic intolerance due to autonomic insufficiency following bariatric surgery, and awareness of the potential association between bariatric surgery and new orthostatic intolerance is important for providing timely care.
On the communicative function of subject pronouns in Arabic

This paper presents results of an investigation into the communicative function that the presence/absence of pronouns has within the sentence and beyond it into discourse.
Validity of the Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale for youth with autism spectrum disorders

High rates of anxiety and depression are reported among youth with autism spectrum disorders. These conditions are generally assessed using measures validated for typically developing youth. Few studies have investigated their validity for autism spectrum disorders, which is crucial for accurate assessment and the provision of proper treatment. The Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale was evaluated with 67 youth with autism spectrum disorders to examine its utility in measuring anxiety and depression in this population. Parents and children (aged 11-15 years) referred to a multisite intervention study completed the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale, Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children, Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule, Child Behavior Checklist, and Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results suggest acceptable internal consistency of the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale. Modest convergent validity was found among the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale and other standardized measures of anxiety and depression. There were stronger correlations between Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale Total scores and subscales of measures expected to correlate significantly than those not expected to correlate. One exception was a significant association between the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale and Child Behavior Checklist Attention subscale, calling into question the divergent validity in separating anxiety from attention problems. Overall, results suggest preliminary support for the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale in youth with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders.
Reciprocal, Longitudinal Associations Among Adolescents' Negative Feedback-Seeking, Depressive Symptoms, and Peer Relations

This study examined reciprocal associations among adolescents’ negative feedback-seeking, depressive symptoms, perceptions of friendship quality, and peer-reported social preference over an 11-month period. A total of 478 adolescents in grades 6–8 completed measures of negative feedbackseeking, depressive symptoms, friendship quality, global-self-esteem, and social anxiety at two time points. Peer-reported measures of peer status were collected using a sociometric procedure. Consistent with hypotheses, path analyses results suggested that negative feedback-seeking was associated longitudinally with depressive symptoms and perceptions of friendship criticism in girls and with lower social preference scores in boys; however, depressive symptoms were not associated longitudinally with negative feedback-seeking. Implications for interpersonal models of adolescent depression are discussed.
Race to the Top: Implications for Professional Development in Arts Education

This article provides an initial look at Race to the Top as it relates to professional development for arts educators. Topics include the philosophy of Race to the Top education reform, data informed professional development, performance pay, and how these changes may affect arts educators.
Hollow-waveguide delivery systems for high-power, industrial CO 2 lasers

Hollow-sapphire and metal–dielectric-coated hollow-glass waveguides have been used to deliver CO2 laser power for industrial laser applications. The transmission, bending loss, and output-beam properties of these waveguides are described. The bore sizes of the hollow-sapphire waveguides were 1070 and 790 μm, and the hollow-glass waveguide had a bore of 700 μm. The waveguides ranged in length from 1.1 to 1.5 m. The sapphire waveguides were bent to 90°, and the hollow-glass waveguides were bent into a full 360° loop. We delivered a maximum of 1.8 kW through the 1070-μm-bore sapphire waveguide and 1.0 kW through the hollow-glass waveguide. All the hollow waveguides incorporated a water jacket to prevent overheating.
On the effects of speech rate in large vocabulary speech recognition systems

It is well known that a higher-than-normal speech rate will cause the rate of recognition errors in large vocabulary automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems to increase. In this paper we attempt to identify and correct for errors due to fast speech. We first suggest that phone rate is a more meaningful measure of speech rate than the more common word rate. We find that when data sets are clustered according to the phone rate metric, recognition errors increase when the phone rate is more than 1 standard deviation greater than the mean. We propose three methods to improve the recognition accuracy of fast speech, each addressing different aspects of performance degradation. The first method is an implementation of Baum-Welch codebook adaptation. The second method is based on the adaptation of HMM state-transition probabilities. In the third method, the pronunciation dictionaries are modified using rule-based techniques and compound words are added. We compare improvements in recognition accuracy for each method using data sets clustered according to the phone rate metric. Adaptation of the HMM state-transition probabilities to fast speech improves recognition of fast speech by a relative amount of 4 to 6 percent.
Biopsychosocial approaches to understanding human aggression: the first 30 years

Theorists and researchers have long been aware of the potential utility of multidimensional explanations of human behavior, including human aggressive behavior. Biopsychosocial models are multidimensional explanations that attempt to provide a framework for understanding how biologic, contextual, and individual difference variables combine to influence human behavior. In this paper, the rationale for giving contemporary investigators a forum to discuss research findings on aggressive behavior from a biopsychosocial perspective is developed. The advantages and potential shortcomings of viewing aggressive behavior from a biopsychosocial perspective are briefly discussed.
Do We Stand on Common Ground? A Threat Appraisal Model for Terror Alerts Issued by the Department of Homeland Security

nnnThe fabric and faces of threat, and the expediency and efﬁciency in the communication of threat,are examined with a threat appraisal model. This model is empirically tested on an ongoingcommunication challenge, the issuance of terror alerts by the United States’ Department ofHomeland Security (DHS), focusing on how threat is appraised by both the conservative andliberal audiences. Findings showed a shared view by the DHS and conservative audiences onthe levels and nature of threats; liberal audiences thought otherwise. Though there appeared tobe a consensus between the conservative and liberal audiences on the efﬁcacy of threatcommunication, more internal consistency within DHS is needed to optimise its effectiveness.
All-epitaxial-apertured GaAs-based vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser

An all-epitaxial process is described for obtaining an intracavity aperture in GaAs-based vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) that lead to simultaneous current and optical confinement. The laser structure starts with 30 pairs of n-type GaAs/AlAs bottom DBR mirrors, a full-wave cavity including three 6nm In0.2Ga0.8As quantum wells at the center, and 1.5 pairs of p-type GaAs/AlGaAs DBR mirrors. A tunnel junction is deposited thereafter, which includes AlGaAs etch-stop, 30nm p+ (Be = 5×1019 cm-3) GaAs, 10nm n+ (Si = 5×1019 cm-3) In0.1Ga0.9As, and 30nm n+ (Si = 1×1019 cm-3) GaAs. Apertures are defined by removal of the tunnel junction layers outside the aperture via ex-situ lithography and wet etching. The VCSEL structure is completed by an MBE regrowth of 15 pairs of n-type GaAs/AlAs DBRs. Simple post-grown processing includes metal ring contact deposition and device isolation (wet-etching through the cavity.) The current confinement in the area far from the aperture is shown to be excellent from the measurement of the same-size dummy mesas and metal contacts next to the working devices on the same wafer. At room temperature, a 10 μm circular-aperture VCSEL lases under pulsed current injection with a threshold current of 2.6mA. Some limitations in the continuous wave operating characteristics will be described and are believed to arise from Be diffusion. Replacing Be with a less diffusive C dopant can greatly improve the device performance.
Release and dispersal of basidiospores from Amanita muscaria var. alba and their infiltration into a residence

Release and dispersal of basidiospores of Amanita muscaria var. alba and their potential to infiltrate a nearby residence were investigated. Basidiospore release mainly occurred in the first three days following the expansion of the caps. The concentrations of released basidiospores near basidiomata were 77 137, 75062, and 41 738 spores m−3 in the first three days, respectively, with the highest concentration at 281 738 spores m−3 air. After three days, the concentration dropped by 95%. At the second location, airborne basidiospore concentrations dropped 96-99% after three days with the concentrations of 940, 575, and 1359 spores m−3 in the first three days, respectively. The diurnal pattern showed a relatively extended night peak. Relative humidity and dew were positively correlated with basidiospore release and short distance dispersal. Rain and rain rate were positively correlated with basidiospore release, but not correlated with short distance dispersal. The basidiospore release period of Amanita muscaria var. alba was short, but within such a period it released a large amount of basidiospores. However, only less than 5% of basidiospores released were dispersed to the second location 5.2 m away and 2.7 m above the basidiomata. Only
Medication adherence part one: understanding and assessing the problem.

AbstractPurpose:This is the first of a three-part series on medication adherence in which the authors describe the continuum of adherence to nonadherence of medication usage.Data sources:Research articles through MEDLINE and PubMed.Conclusions:Understanding the magnitude and scope of the problem of
The GISS Global Climate-Middle Atmosphere Model. Part I: Model Structure and Climatology

Abstract The GISS global climate model (Hansen et al.) has been extended to include the middle atmosphere up to an altitude of approximately 85 km. The model has the full array of processes used for climate research, i.e., numerical solutions of the primitive equations, calculation of radiative and surface fluxes, a complete hydrologic cycle with convective and cloud cover parameterizations, etc. In addition, a parameterized gravity wave drag formulation has been incorporated, in which gravity-wave momentum fluxes due to flow over topography, wind shear and convection are calculated at each grid box, using theoretical relationships between the grid-scale variables and expected source strengths. The parameterized waves then propagate vertically upward depending on the instantaneous wind and temperature profiles, with waves breaking at levels in which their momentum flux exceed the background saturation value. Radiative damping is also calculated, and the total momentum convergence in each layer is used to ...
Neither Kingdom Nor Nation: The Irish Quest for Constitutional Rights, 1698-1800

Using Anglo-Irish attempts to define and defend their civil rights, Neil Longley York demonstrates how political ideology is played out in a social context. His study begins with seventeenth-century expressions of Anglo-Irish grievance and proceeds, via an examination of patriot writings, to the union of the British and Irish parliaments in 1800. The author traces the development of an Irish constitutional tradition, which he sees as nationalistic and revolutionary, from its origin in seventeenth-century Protestant and Catholic sources and analyzes the impact of this tradition on Irish political institutions and on Ireland's place in the eighteenth-century British imperial system. He also shows how Irish Catholics helped to articulate a constitutional tradition that is normally thought of as originating with the Anglo-Irish Ascendancy. Thus, for York, the 1643 Argument of Patrick Darcy, a Catholic, deserves as prominent a place in the emergence of Irish constitutionalism as William Molyneux's more famous 1698 Case of Ireland Stated. The author's comparison of the Anglo-Irish to their American contemporaries allows him to put the Anglo-Irish problem into a larger context and to ask questions that Irish specialists have tended to pass over. That the Anglo-Irish talked the same constitutional language as their Revolutionary American cousins while pursuing different objectives is, according to York, a reminder that constitutional disquisition cannot be separated from social and political context. This is a notion rarely touched on by Irish historians but frequently explored at length by specialists in Revolutionary American history. This engaging study will prove especially useful to Irish studies specialists--particularly those interested in eighteenth-century Ireland and the Anglo-Irish Protestant Ascendancy, to students of British political and intellectual history, and to anyone interested in constitutional history presented in a socio-political context. Neil Longley York is an associate professor of history and past director of the American studies program at Brigham Young University. He is the author of Mechanical Metamorphosis: Technological Change in Revolutionary America (1985) and editor of Toward a More Perfect Union: Six Essays on the Constitution (1988). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------One of the most rewarding books on eighteenth-century Ireland published in the last generation.--Gerard OAEBrien, Magee College, University of Ulster
Can we prevent heart failure with exercise

“ May I suggest that more attention be paid to the simple rules of health … . These, if adequately carried out, especially by candidates for certain diseases such as hypertension and coronary atherosclerosis, might … prevent or delay the onset of these diseases.” —Dr. Paul Dudley White ([1
Game Theory Through Examples: Theory 2: Simultaneous Games

In his story “Jewish Poker” the writer Ephraim Kishon describes how a man called Ervinke convinces the narrator to play a game called Jewish Poker with him. “You think of a number, I also think of a number”, Ervinke explains. “Whoever thinks of a higher number wins. This sounds easy, but it has a hundred pitfalls.” Then they play. It takes the narrator some time until he realizes that it is better to let Ervinke tell his number first. [ K1961 ] Obviously this is a game that is not fair unless both players play simultaneously. In this chapter we will start our journey through game theory by considering games where each player moves only once, and moves are made simultaneously. The games can be described in a table (called the game's normal form ). Then we discuss approaches that allow the players to decide which move they will choose, culminating with the famous Nash equilibrium. Normal Form—Bimatrix Description Imagine you want to describe a simultaneous game. We know that each player has only one move, and that all moves are made simultaneously. What else do we need to say? First, we must stipulate the number of players in the game. Second, we must list for each player all possible moves. Different players may have different roles and may have different options for moves. We assume that each player has only finitely many options. Players simultaneously make their moves, determine the outcome of the game, and receive their payoffs. We need to describe the payoffs for each outcome.
Bordetella filamentous hemagglutinin and fimbriae: critical adhesins with unrealized vaccine potential

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease that is caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Bordetella pertussis, which is transmitted exclusively from human to human. While vaccination against B. pertussis has been successful, replacement of the whole cell vaccine with an acellular component vaccine has correlated with reemergence of the disease, especially in adolescents and infants. Based on their presumed importance in mediating adherence to host tissues, filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) and fimbria (FIM) were selected as components of most acellular pertussis vaccines. In this review, we describe the biogenesis of FHA and FIM, recent data that show that these factors do, in fact, play critical roles in adherence to respiratory epithelium, and evidence that they also contribute to persistence in the lower respiratory tract by modulating the host immune response. We also discuss shortcomings of whole cell and acellular pertussis vaccines and the possibility that FHA and FIM could serve as effective protective antigens in next-generation vaccines.
Abstract 249: High Salt and Aldosterone Increase (pro)renin Receptor Expression Through Enac {alpha} Activation in Neuronal Cells

Activation of the brain renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system plays an essential role in hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system during salt sensitive hypertension. We previously reported an up-regulation of (pro)renin receptor (PRR) expression levels in DOCA-salt hypertensive mice brain. However, the mechanism by which PRR is regulated in DOCA-salt hypertension remains unknown. We hypothesize that aldosterone increases PRR expression by activation of epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). To test this hypothesis, we used neuro-2A cell line from brain hypothalamus which expresses all ENaC α, β, and γ subunits, as well as mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). Cells were incubated in normal salt (NS, 142 mM) or high salt (HS, 160 mM) culture medium for 1, 3, or 5 days, with or without the addition of aldosterone (1μM) for 2 hours. Interestingly, the combination of HS (5 days) with aldosterone significantly increased PRR mRNA levels (fold change) (3.28 ± 0.11) compared to NS (1.00 ± 0.01), HS (1.23 ± 0.01), or aldosterone (1.40 ± 0.01) alone in Neuro-2A cells. The PRR expression levels (1.253 ± 0.006; 1.89 ± 0.002) were significantly attenuated by ENaC inhibition (amiloride, 10μM) or MR inhibition (eplernone, 10μM) respectively (P
Adaptive genetic robustness of Escherichia coli metabolic fluxes

Genetic robustness refers to phenotypic invariance in the face of mutation and is a common characteristic of life, but its evolutionary origin is highly controversial. Genetic robustness could be an intrinsic property of biological systems, a result of direct natural selection, or a byproduct of selection for environmental robustness. To differentiate among these hypotheses, we analyze the metabolic network of Escherichia coli and comparable functional random networks. Treating the flux of each reaction as a trait and computationally predicting trait values upon mutations or environmental shifts, we discover that 1) genetic robustness is greater for the actual network than the random networks, 2) the genetic robustness of a trait increases with trait importance and this correlation is stronger in the actual network than in the random networks, and 3) the above result holds even after the control of environmental robustness. These findings demonstrate an adaptive origin of genetic robustness, consistent with the theoretical prediction that, under certain conditions, direct selection is sufficiently powerful to promote genetic robustness in cellular organisms.
Release of antidiuretic hormone by morphine in rats: an in vivo and in vitro study.

AbstractMorphine has been reported to cause either diuresis or antidiuresis in rats. It is not clear whether antidiuretic hormone (ADH) release contributes to antidiuresis. In this paper we report that iv injection of morphine in doses of 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/kg caused antidiuresis and not diuresis in conscious rats. There was a dose-related increase in plasma ADH levels. The peak level of hormone occurred in the sample taken within 30 sec of morphine administration. The levels of hormone gradually decreased in samples taken at 5, 10, and 15 min after morphine administration. Prior injection of naloxone, 1 mg/kg, did not prevent the release of ADH in response to morphine. In in vitro experiments morphine did not release ADH into the medium when incubated with isolated neural lobes although a gradual release was observed when incubated with intact hypothalamoneurohypophysial preparations. The in vitro ADH release by morphine was also not prevented by naloxone. These results thus demonstrate that morphine can r...
Butterflies & Skippers (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea, Hesperioidea) of the Franklin Parker Preserve, Burlington County, New Jersey

ABSTRACT In 2009 and 2010, a butterfly and skipper survey was conducted at Franklin Parker Preserve (FPP) located within Woodland Township, Burlington County, New Jersey. This survey was part of the joint cooperation between the American Entomological Society and the New Jersey Conservation Foundation and funded by a Research Experience for Undergraduates grant. Franklin Parker Preserve is located in the center of the Pine Barrens, where insect fauna has not been strongly studied and inventoried, specifically with the Lepidoptera fauna. Through this survey, fifty-three butterfly and skipper species have been documented to occur on Franklin Parker Preserve property. Time of year and abundance of these species were recorded. Three Species of Special Concern listed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection were found at FPP: Callophrys hesseli Rawson & Ziegler (Hessel's Hairstreak) Euphyes bimacula Grote & Robinson (Two-Spotted Skipper) and Hesperia attalus Edwards (Dotted Skipper.) This paper...
Gilles et Jacques se disputent Béla: philosophies of cinematic modernism and the films of Béla Tarr

AbstractThis article argues that, in spite of superficial affinities between the work of Tarr and Deleuze's notion of the time-image, his films can be more fruitfully discussed within the rubric of Ranciere's 'aesthetic regime of art', as evinced by the recent publication of the monograph Bela Tarr, Le temps d'apres. This concept, providing for a more dialectical, spiralic relationship between cinematic classicism and modernism than that which is afforded by Deleuze's Cinema books, allows our understanding of Tarr's work to escape the commonplace 'death of cinema' thesis which his recent retirement from filmmaking has prompted, and it will instead be argued that Tarr's films, in collapsing the distinctions between classical and modernist cinema, point to the potential for a continued vitality of the medium.
A Three-state Multiplicative Model for Rodent Tumorigenicity Experiments

SUMMARY A three-state illness-death model provides a useful way to represent data from rodent tumorigenicity experiments. Some of the earliest proposals use fully parametric models based on, for example, Weibull distributional assumptions. Recently, nonparametric versions of this model have been proposed, but these generally require large data sets with frequent interim sacrifices to yield stable estimates. As a compromise between these extremes, others have considered semiparametric models. In this paper, we develop a model that assumes a multiplicative relationship between death rates with and without tumour and a piecewise exponential model for the base-line transition rates. The model can be fitted with information from a single sacrifice. An EM algorithm provides a useful way to fit the model, since the likelihood corresponds to that from a standard piecewise exponential survival model when time to tumour onset is known. We discuss the relationship between the piecewise exponential model and other recent proposals and illustrate the method with data from two carcinogenicity studies.
Scalable Cloud–Sensor Architecture for the Internet of Things

Recent advances in the Internet of Things (IoT) and pervasive and ubiquitous computing provide a glimpse into the future of our planet and reveal exciting visions of many smart things: smart cities, smart homes, smart cars, and other smart spaces such as malls, workplaces, hotels, schools, and much more. Driven by a technological revolution offering “low-power many things and wireless almost everything,” we could, in only a decade, envision and prototype impressive smart space systems that improve quality of life, enhance awareness of resources and the environment, and enrich users’ experience. However, prototyping is one thing and actual large-scale deployments are another. The massive scale of sensors and devices that will be deployed in smart cities of the future will be challenging. Without an ecosystem and a scalable architecture in place, it will be extremely difficult to manage or program such an expanding and massive IoT. In this paper, we introduce the Cloud-Edge-Beneath (CEB) architecture and present its salient scalability features. We also present a validation study based on an event-driven programming model demonstrating CEB’s scaling behavior in face of IoT expansion and under dynamically increasing loads.
Software Failure Risk

While organizations face many different types of risks, the increasing reliance on computer systems introduces new elements of risk. Some risks, such as physical destruction of hardware, are managed with the same techniques as other risks in our society. Risks associated with the development and use of software, however, pose some special problems. Software is often unique; little historical information is available to analyze its risk. The complex interrelationships found in software complicate risk measurement. Moreover, the introduction of software can change an organization’s environment, making it difficult to both analyze and manage risk. While there is always the risk that the software will not be developed effectively, there is also the risk that, once developed, the software may not meet the needs of the organization.
Serum Neuritis: 20 Cases Following Use of Antitetanic Serum

Antitetanic serum is an important prophylactic and therapeutic agent. Serum neuritis should be recognized in the course of serum sickness. A review of 20 of the author s cases of this condition is presented. This complication of the use of antitetanic serum should not discourage its use.
The Past, Present, and Future of the Muslim Millet: Discourses of Modernity and Identity in Interwar Bulgaria, 1923–39

The establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923 served as a turning point in the conflict-ridden efforts of Muslims in the post-Ottoman Balkans to define themselves as a community while being incorporated as citizens of (Christian) nation-states. The victorious armies of Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk) in the War of Independence (1919–22) asserted a break with the putative Ottoman backwardness and declared the bankruptcy of the imperial model. Simultaneously, further north in the Hapsburg lands, the disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire into nation-states appeared to endorse the same verdict — the old multi-ethnic empire was a thing of the past. So, the abolition of the Ottoman Sultanate and the inauguration of the Republic signaled a change in the ‘regime of historicity’ (Hartog, 1996, p. 96): the new republican ruling elite, its writers of history especially, became preoccupied with temporality in defining Turkish national identity. Pressing questions, such as how the national present related to the imperial past, and, even more importantly, where and how Turks could be located in pre-Ottoman, pre-Islamic civilization, stimulated re-evaluation and reconceptual. ization of the Ottoman Empire (Ersanli, 2002; Parla, 1985). These questions proved important for Muslims in Bulgaria as well, and not simply because supporters of Mustafa Kemal in Bulgaria and his Bulgaria-based exiled opponents argued over the Ottoman past. The collapse of the Ottoman Empire changed a crucial reference point for Muslims in Bulgaria with respect to defining themselves as a community.
Toward a Theory of Constitutive Justice

In the preceding chapters, I have tried to show that there is something to be gained if we can clarify how the boundaries of communities of justice might themselves be deemed just or unjust. I have suggested that this sort of question brings into focus a novel variety of justice, one distinct from the classical faces of distributive and corrective justice. My primary purpose in this book has been to inaugurate enquiry into what I have called constitutive justice by demonstrating the cogency of the category, identifying its characteristic questions, introducing some working conceptual tools for addressing them, and outlining an agenda for further research. In that sense, I have been presenting a descriptive theory of constitutive justice.
Contractual Specification of Communication Tools in Outsourced ISD Projects

Technical and organizational complexity of outsourced information systems development (ISD) projects calls for increased attention to communication, governance and control. Contract management and client-vendor relationships are both well studied but rarely analyzed together. Earlier studies suggest combining formal (i.e., agreed upon upfront and contractually specified) and informal (i.e., voluntary and emerging during the project) communication mechanisms for best results.
Estimating potential revenue from electrical energy storage in PJM

FERC order 755 and FERC order 784 provide pay-for-performance requirements and direct utilities and independent system operators to consider speed and accuracy when purchasing frequency regulation. Independent System Operators (ISOs) have differing implementations of pay-for-performance. This paper focuses on the PJM implementation. PJM is a regional transmission organization in the northeastern United States that serves 13 states and the District of Columbia. PJM's implementation employs a two part payment based on the Regulation Market Capability Clearing price (RMCCP) and the Regulation Market Performance Clearing Price (RMPCP). The performance credit includes a mileage ratio. Both the RMCCP and RMPCP employ an actual performance score. Using the PJM remuneration model, this paper outlines the calculations required to estimate the maximum potential revenue from participation in arbitrage and regulation in day-ahead markets using linear programming. Historical PJM data from 2014 and 2015 was then used to evaluate the maximum potential revenue from a 5 MWh, 20 MW system based on the Beacon Power Hazle Township flywheel plant. Finally, a heuristic trading algorithm that does not require perfect foresight was evaluated against the results of the optimization algorithm.
Rapid hyperspectral, vibrationally resonant sum-frequency generation microscopy

We discuss the development and application of a laser-scanning, nonlinear optical microscope capable of generating vibrationally resonant images based on sum-frequency generation (SFG), coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) or third-order sum-frequency generation (TSFG). The combination of these three modalities allows vibrationally sensitive imaging of both χ (2) and χ (3) -active structures in biological tissues, addressing both Raman-active as well as IR-allowed vibrational modes. We show the practical utility of these vibrationally sensitive modalities by imaging collagen I rich tissues.
Timing of Permanent Ventricular Shunt Placement Following External Ventricular Drain Placement in Primary Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Background Intraventricular hemorrhage requiring ventriculostomy placement is a frequent complication of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Although a subset of patients will require permanent ventricular shunt placement, little is known about contemporary practices regarding the timing of ventriculostomy and ventricular shunt placement after intracerebral hemorrhage. Methods Using the 2010-2012 National Inpatient Sample, we identified patients with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes for intracerebral hemorrhage, excluded secondary causes, and examined procedure dates. Results Of 35,899 patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage, 2443 (6.8%) received ventriculostomy, 93% within the first 3 days of admission and 66% within the first day. Permanent shunt placement occurred in 173 (7.1%) patients following ventriculostomy at a median interval of 15 days (interquartile range: 11-20). Among those remaining alive and in hospital at 14, 21, and 28 days, 5%, 11%, and 15%, respectively, underwent shunt placement following ventriculostomy, and 24% of those with multiple ventriculostomy insertions required permanent shunt by 4 weeks of hospitalization. Multiple ventriculostomies, tracheostomy, and black race were associated with longer time to permanent shunt. Conclusions A wide variation in delay to permanent shunt placement is present, with substantial and increasing prevalence with time in hospital. Better understanding of the risk factors associated with persistent hydrocephalus will help optimize patient selection and timing of treatment.