cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design Considerations for a Social Network-Based Recommendation System (SNRS)

The effects of homophily among friends have demonstrated their importance to product marketing. However, it has rarely been considered in recommender systems. In this chapter, we propose a new paradigm of recommender systems which can significantly improve performance by utilizing information in social networks including user preference, item likability, and homophily. A probabilistic model, named SNRS, is developed to make personalized recommendations from such information. We extract data from a real online social network, and our analysis of this large dataset reveals that friends have a tendency to select the same items and give similar ratings. Experimental results from this dataset show that SNRS not only improves the prediction accuracy of recommender systems, but also remedies the data sparsity and cold-start issues inherent in collaborative filtering. Furthermore, we propose to improve the performance of SNRS by applying semantic filtering of social networks and validate its improvement via a class project experiment. In this experiment, we demonstrate how relevant friends can be selected for inference based on the semantics of friend relationships and finer-grained user ratings. Such technologies can be deployed by most content providers. Finally, we discuss two trust issues in recommender systems and show how SNRS can be extended to solve these problems.
Preoperative Antiplatelet and Statin Use Does Not Affect Outcomes after Carotid Endarterectomy

Background The use of statin and antiplatelet medications has been advocated in patients with cerebrovascular disease as primary medical therapy and as an adjunct to carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Our goal was to assess the prevalence of preoperative statin and antiplatelet use and its effect on perioperative outcomes after CEA. Methods The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program targeted CEA database was queried for patients undergoing CEA between 2011 and 2014. Multivariable analysis was used to assess the effect of preoperative statin and antiplatelet use on CEA. Results There were 13,521 CEAs identified. The average age was 71 years, and 61.5% were male. More than half of patients (57.9%) were asymptomatic. Preoperative statin use was seen in 80.5% of patients, and antiplatelet use was seen in 89.3% of patients. Statin use was more common in patients with higher body mass index, independent functional status, diabetes, hypertension, bleeding disorders or anticoagulation, nonsmokers, and asymptomatic patients (P Conclusions Preoperative statin and antiplatelet use in patients undergoing CEA was more often observed in patients with higher rates of comorbidities and asymptomatic disease, and this may represent closer follow-up and engagement with primary care physicians in this patient cohort. Preoperative statin and antiplatelet use did not affect perioperative outcomes suggesting that its short-term use is not essential. In patients who are not on statins or antiplatelet medications, CEA can safely be performed before consideration is given to their initiation.
Statistical Intervals for a Normal Population Part I. Tables, Examples and Applications

Part 1 of this article provides factors for constructing frequently required intervals for a normal population and describes the situations in which each interval is applicable. The specific intervals considered are ones to contain with a high probabili..
Throughput in an Energy Harvesting Wireless Uplink

In this paper, throughput maximization in a wireless energy harvesting uplink is considered. For fairness, we assume that each node’s throughput cannot drop below what it achieves by direct transmission to the base station. The throughput is maximized using data relaying and by optimally assigning a role to each node, i.e., relay, source (direct transmission), or user (of a relay). Both centralized and decentralized algorithms that find the optimal assignment of each node are proposed and studied. We consider fixed and variable transmit power scenarios and address complexity issues. Our algorithms are shown to have a linear or quadratic complexity compared with the exponential complexity of the brute force approach. Compared with cooperative transmission, our approach maximizes the overall throughput of the network such that no node’s throughput is adversely affected.
Sense-Through-Foliage Target Detection Based on EMD and UWB Radar Sensor Networks

In this paper, we propose to apply Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) approach to detect target hidden in foliage clutter based on data collected by Ultra Wide Band (UWB) radar. The EMD based target detection approach performs well when the radar signal quality is good. However, EMD approach fails to detect target when the radar signal quality is poor. In such case, Rake structure in RSN is applied to combine different radar echoes as preprocessing before EMD to achieve target detection task.
The Schizosaccharomyces pombe cdc5+ gene encodes an essential protein with homology to c-Myb.

Abstract The Schizosaccharomyces pombe cdc5+ gene was identified in the first screen for cell division cycle mutants in this yeast. The cdc5+ gene was reported to be required for nuclear division but because of its modest elongation and leaky nature at the non-permissive temperature, it was not investigated further. Here, we report the characterization of the single allele of this gene, cdc5-120, in more detail. The mutant arrests with a 2N DNA content and a single interphase nucleus. Further genetic analyses suggest that cdc5+ gene function is essential in the G2 phase of the cell cycle. We have cloned and sequenced the cdc5+ gene. The deduced protein sequence predicts that Cdc5 is an 87 kDa protein and contains a region sharing significant homology with the DNA binding domain of the Myb family of transcription factors. Deletion mapping of the cdc5+ gene has shown that the N-terminal 232 amino acids of the protein, which contain the Myb-related region, are sufficient to complement the cdc5ts strain. A cdc5 null mutant was generated by homologous recombination. Haploid cells lacking cdc5+ are inviable, indicating that cdc5+ is an essential gene. A fusion protein consisting of bacterial glutathione S-transferase joined in-frame to the N-terminal 127 amino acids of the Cdc5 protein is able to bind to DNA cellulose at low salt concentrations. This evidence suggests that cdc5+ might encode a transcription factor whose activity is required for cell cycle progression and growth during G2.
Fuzzy Expert Systems

PREFACE. FUZZY EXPERT SYSTEMS THEORY. The Evolution From Expert Systems to Fuzzy Expert Systems. General Purpose Fuzzy Expert Systems. Inferences With Inaccuracy and Uncertainty in Expert Systems. On the Representation of Relational Production Rules in Expert Systems. Reduction Procedures for Rule-Based Expert Systems as a Tool for Studies of Properties of Expert's Knowledge. The Physiology of the Expert System. On the Processing of Imperfect Information Using Structured Frameworks. Fuzzy Linguistic Inference Network Generator. Advances in Automated Reasoning Using Possibilistic Logic. Fuzzy Associative Memory Systems. APPLICATIONS OF FUZZY EXPERT SYSTEMS. The Role of Approximate Reasoning in a Medical Expert System. Fess: A Reusable Fuzzy Expert System. Design for Designing: Fuzzy Relational Environmental Design Assistant (FREDA). On the Design of a Fuzzy Intelligent Differential Equation Solver. MILORD: A Fuzzy Expert Systems Shell. Medical Decision Making Using Classification Techniques for Establishment of Knowledge Bases. Fuzzy Expert Systems for an Intelligent Computer-Based Tutor. Expert System on a Chip: An Engine for Approximate Reasoning. A Probabilistic Logic for Expert Systems. COMEX-An Autonomous Fuzzy Expert System for Tactical Communications Networks.
Is Two Too Many? Parity and Mothers' Labor Force Exit.

Objective How do women's chances of labor force exit vary by the number of children they have? Background Conventional wisdom suggests there may be a tipping point at the second child when women are particularly likely to leave. Women who only ever have one child, by contrast, are thought to be uniquely unlikely to exit. Method Using data from the nationally representative 1979-2012 waves of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (https://www.nlsinfo.org/content/cohorts/nlsy79), event history methods estimate the likelihood of labor force exit as women progress across parity transitions. Results Results show no evidence for a tipping point around the birth of second children. Women are instead most likely to leave the labor force when they are pregnant with their first child and each subsequent child is associated with a smaller increase in the probability of exit. In addition, women who only ever have one child are less likely to leave the labor force than those who have more children and these differences arise as early as their pregnancies with their first children. College-educated women who only ever have one child are especially unlikely to exit. Conclusion Findings thus do not support the second child tipping point hypothesis, but they emphasize the importance of completed parity and the transition to motherhood for mothers' labor force behavior.
Taxonomy and biogeography of the freshwater crabs of Tanzania, East Africa (Brachyura: Potamoidea: Potamonautidae, Platythelphusidae, Deckeniidae)

The taxonomy of the freshwater crabs of Tanzania, East Africa is revised based on a large collection of previously unreported material. The crabs are treated here as a distinct regional subset of the African continental fauna. We recognize 25 species belonging to three genera (Potamonautes MacLeay, 1838, Platythelphusa A. Milne-Edwards, 1872, and Deckenia Hilgendorf, 1869a) and three families (the Potamonautidae Bott, 1970, the Platythelphusidae Colosi, 1920, and the Deckeniidae Ortmann, 1897). Tanzania is home to fourteen species of Potamonautes (including one new species), 9 species of Platythelphusa and 2 species of Deckenia. These estimates can be expected to change as the taxonomy of the freshwater crabs of this region becomes more refined. Potamonautes unisulcatus (Rathbun, 1933) is removed from synonymy and is recognized as a valid species; P. platycentron (Hilgendorf, 1897), originally a subspecies of P. johnstoni (Miers, 1885), is regarded as a valid species; P. ambiguus (Rathbun, 1904) is treated here as a junior subjective synonym of P. johnstoni (Miers, 1885), and P. johnstoni stappersi (Balss, 1936) is treated as a junior subjective synonym of P. loveridgei (Rathbun, 1933). The present work adds another species of Potamonautes, P. xiphoidus n. sp. from Tanzania. A number of morphological characters (including the shape and size of the dorsal membrane of gonopod 1) are identified to help clarify the taxonomy of Potamonautes in Tanzania. A revised species list for Tanzania is provided, as well as updated identification keys to the families, genera and species of Tanzanian freshwater crabs. The distribution of each species is refined based on new localities. Three out of 25 species (12.5%) (P. infravallatus, P. unisulcatus and P. xiphoidus) are endemic to Tanzania, but this number rises to 13 out of 25 (52%) if the Lake Tanganyika endemic species which occur in other countries that border the lake are included. Only two of the 25 Tanzanian species of freshwater crabs (P. lirrangensis and P. suprasulcatus) occur outside of the East African region in the D. R. Congo and Malawi.
Tendons from kangaroo rats are exceptionally strong and tough

Tendons must be able to withstand the forces generated by muscles and not fail. Accordingly, a previous comparative analysis across species has shown that tendon strength (i.e., failure stress) increases for larger species. In addition, the elastic modulus increases proportionally to the strength, demonstrating that the two properties co-vary. However, some species may need specially adapted tendons to support high performance motor activities, such as sprinting and jumping. Our objective was to determine if the tendons of kangaroo rats (k-rat), small bipedal animals that can jump as high as ten times their hip height, are an exception to the linear relationship between elastic modulus and strength. We measured and compared the material properties of tendons from k-rat ankle extensor muscles to those of similarly sized white rats. The elastic moduli of k-rat and rat tendons were not different, but k-rat tendon failure stresses were much larger than the rat values (nearly 2 times larger), as were toughness (over 2.5 times larger) and ultimate strain (over 1.5 times longer). These results support the hypothesis that the tendons from k-rats are specially adapted for high motor performance, and k-rat tendon could be a novel model for improving tissue engineered tendon replacements.
Resiliency Demands on Next Generation Critical Embedded Systems

Emerging intelligent systems have stringent constraints including cost and power consumption. When they are used in critical applications, resiliency becomes another key requirement. Much research into techniques for fault tolerance and dependability has been successfully applied to highly critical systems, such as those used in space, where cost is not an overriding constraint. Further, most resiliency techniques were focused on dealing with failures in the hardware and bugs in the software. The next generation of systems used in critical applications will also have to be tolerant to test escapes after manufacturing, soft errors and transients in the electronics, hardware bugs, hardware and software Trojans and viruses, as well as intrusions and other security attacks during operation. This paper will assess the impact of these threats on the results produced by a critical system, and proposed solutions to each of them. It is argued that run-time checks at the application-level are necessary to deal with errors in the results.
Reprising ASL at ACT

A review of Romeo & Juliet at Seattle's A Contemporary Theatre featuring deaf actors in the roles of Friar Lawrence and Romeo.
Social Work and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies: Practice Considerations for Breakthrough Treatments

The re-emergence of therapeutic uses for mind-altering, psychedelic drugs has brought the field of mental health to a new frontier in research, practice, and policymaking. In the past two decades dozens of clinical trials investigating therapeutic applications of psychedelics—including MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine—have shown promising results in the treatment of trauma-related disorders, some forms of anxiety, and depression. These substances have also garnered preliminary support from the Food and Drug Administration, which has fast-tracked their development. As the field of psychedelic science continues to grow, a serious consideration of these novel treatments in the context of social work practice and values is imperative. This paper offers a brief overview of MDMA-, psilocybin-, and ketamine-assisted treatments, and presents an initial discussion of questions pertinent to social work practice raised by their use, including: safety, efficacy, theory of change, training needs, and social justice considerations.
What do you know about MaryJane? A systematic review of the current data on the THC:CBD ratio

Background: Ratios of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) impact metabolism and therapeutic effects of cannabis. Currently, no states with legalized medical or recreational cannabis consider ratios THC:CBD in regulations. Objective: Determine what THC:CBD ratios are selected for use in clinical cannabis trials and what is the rationale. Methods: This is a systematic literature review of Central, CINAHL, Embase, PsycInfo, and PubMed of the last 10 years of English language medical cannabis publications highlighting THC:CBD ratios. Included were clinical studies of products containing and listing both THC and CBD ratios, percentages, or weighted amounts. Case reports and series, abstracts, reviews, and meta-analysis were excluded. Non-human, non-therapeutic, or studies examining approved cannabis pharmaceuticals were excluded. Results: Four hundred and seventy-nine (479) unique references were found, of which 11 met inclusion criteria. THC:CBD ratios listed and/or calculated: 1:0, 22:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:6, 1:9, 1:20, 1:33, 1:50, and 0:1. Rationale for ratios selected was often not listed, or simply trivialized as the ratios available to patients in the area, or ratios that were pharmaceutically available throughout the study country. One study compared ratios of high and low THC:CBD, but did not specify the ratios. Conclusion: The medical and scientific communities have not drawn substantive conclusions nor thoroughly explored THC:CBD ratios for "best practice" treatment of different disease processes and their sequelae. While there is evidence that cannabis provides medical benefits, research is lacking on standardization of medical cannabis use in modern medical practices.
Effect of Natesto on Reproductive Hormones, Semen Parameters and Hypogonadal Symptoms: A Single Center, Open Label, Single Arm Trial

Purpose:To evaluate the effect of short-acting 4.5% nasal testosterone gel (Natesto) on serum testosterone, gonadotropins, total motile sperm count, health related quality of life and sexual functi...
Research progress of physical cooling method in the children with fever

The paper summarized the character of physical cooling for children with fever and the common methods of physical cooling,explored the shortage of physical cooling clinically,and analyzed the various influencing factors of cooling effects.Nurses were conducted to implement correctly the physical cooling measures in order to promote the rehabilitation of children with fever early. Key words: Fever; Children with fever; Physical cooling
Was macht der Pilot? Empirische Analyse

Als systematischer Einstieg in die Thematik des ersten Untersuchungsschwerpunktes werden der Arbeitsplatz und das Aufgaben- und Qualifikationsprofil des Piloten unter Bezugnahme auf das techniksoziologische Konzept der Verteilten Handlungstragerschaft in den Blick genommen. Es soll damit der konkreten Frage nachgegangen werden, welchen Anteil des Flugprozesses die technischen Systeme gemas den offiziellen Beschreibungen ubernehmen und welcher Anteil demnach dem Piloten zugedacht ist – und wie dieser dabei den Vorgaben gemas vorzugehen hat. Als wesentlich wird dabei die Zunahme der Technisierung erachtet, weshalb gezielt der Vergleich zwischen hoch technisierten und wenig technisierten Cockpits fokussiert wurde.
Changes in Muscle Mass and Composition by Exercise and Hypoxia as Assessed by DEXA in Mice

Background and Objective: Skeletal muscle is critical for overall health and predicts quality of life in several chronic diseases, thus quantification of muscle mass and composition is necessary to understand how interventions promote changes in muscle quality. The purpose of this investigation was to quantify changes in muscle mass and composition in two distinct pre-clinical models of changes in muscle quality using a clinical dual X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), validated for use in mice. Materials and Methods: Adult C57Bl6 male mice were given running wheels (RUN; muscle hypertrophy) or placed in hypobaric hypoxia (HH; muscle atrophy) for four weeks. Animals received weekly DEXA and terminal collection of muscle hind limb complex (HLC) and quadriceps weights and signaling for molecular regulators of muscle mass and composition. Results: HH decreased total HLC muscle mass with no changes in muscle composition. RUN induced loss of fat mass in both the quadriceps and HLC. Molecular mediators of atrophy were upregulated in HH while stimulators of muscle growth were higher in RUN. These changes in muscle mass and composition were quantified by a clinical DEXA, which we described and validated for use in pre-clinical models. Conclusions: RUN improves muscle composition while HH promotes muscle atrophy, though changes in composition in hypoxia remain unclear. Use of the widely available clinical DEXA for use in mice enhances translational research capacity to understand the mechanisms by which atrophy and hypertrophy promote skeletal muscle and overall health.
Heritability and complex segregation analysis of naturally-occurring diabetes in Australian Terrier Dogs.

The Australian Terrier breed is the breed at highest risk for naturally-occurring diabetes mellitus in the United States, where it is 32 times more likely to develop diabetes compared to mixed breed dogs. However, the heritability and mode of inheritance of spontaneous diabetes in Australian Terriers has not been reported. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the heritability and mode of inheritance of diabetes in Australian Terriers. A cohort of related Australian Terriers including 383 Australian Terriers without diabetes, 86 Australian Terriers with spontaneous diabetes, and 14 Australian Terriers with an unknown phenotype, was analyzed. A logistic regression model including the effects of sex was formulated to evaluate the heritability of diabetes. The inheritance pattern of spontaneous diabetes in Australian Terriers was investigated by use of complex segregation analysis. Six possible inheritance models were studied, and the Akaike Information Criterion was used to determine the best model for diabetes inheritance in Australian Terriers, among the models deemed biologically feasible. Heritability of diabetes in Australian Terriers was estimated at 0.18 (95% confidence interval 0.0–0.67). There was no significant difference in the effect of males and females on disease outcome. Complex segregation analysis suggested that the mode of diabetes inheritance in Australian Terriers is polygenic, with no evidence for a large effect single gene influencing diabetes. It is concluded that in the population of Australian Terriers bred in the United States, a relatively small degree of genetic variation contributes to spontaneous diabetes. A genetic uniformity for diabetes-susceptible genes within the population of Australian Terriers bred in the Unites States could increase the risk of diabetes in this cohort. These findings hold promise for future genetic studies of canine diabetes focused on this particular breed.
DNA Damage Response Inhibitors as Potentiators of Radiation and Immunogenicity in Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose/objective(s) Both Merkel cell polyomavirus positive (VP) and negative (VN) Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) are highly immunogenic with the highest response rates to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) among solid tumors. Approximately 50% of patients with advanced VP or VN MCC attain durable disease control with ICI; but, patients with MCC (or other cancers) refractory to ICI have limited options necessitating new immune stimulating therapies. Cell cycle checkpoints and the DNA damage response (DDR) are promising targets, and selective inhibitors of key DDR components, including ATR, ATM & DNA-PK, are in early clinical trials. Deregulation of early cell cycle components (e.g., p53 & Rb inactivation paired with Myc protein upregulation) promotes rapid MCC cell division, suggesting high replication stress and susceptibility to DDR inhibitors (DDRi) or DNA damaging agents. Indeed, MCC is very radiosensitive. Animal studies show DDRi + radiation synergize to induce antitumor immunity. The mechanisms for how DDRi promote antitumor immunity are not well understood; however, they may drive immunogenic tumor cell death. Here, we assess potential synergy of DDRi + radiation to upregulate MCC immune markers. Materials/methods MCC-VP (WaGa & MKL2) and VN (MCC13-HL) MCC cell lines were treated with various doses of single fraction radiation (0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24 Gray; 160 kV x-rays) +/- inhibitors of ATR, ATM or DNA-PK. Cells were assessed for viability, expression of IFNβ (ELISA), and MHC-I expression (flow cytometry at 3 days post-radiation). Results In VN-MCC cells, ATRi and ATMi potentiated low-dose radiation (2-4 Gy) to induce IFNβ release and MHC-I upregulation compared to drug or radiation treatment alone at equivalent doses. DNA-PKi was the most potent radiosensitizer inducing rapid cell death when combined with low-dose radiation (2-4 Gy), but early cell death limited IFNβ production relative to VN-MCC treated with radiation alone. DNA-PKi + low-dose radiation to upregulated MHC-I in VN-MCC. All DDRi tested abrogated peak IFNβ production in VN-MCC at radiation doses ≥8 Gy. The Merkel cell polyomavirus inhibits cGAS/STING mediated IFNβ production, and radiation + DDRi did not induce detectable IFNβ release in two VP cell lines. All MCC cell lines were viable when treated with DDRi alone. Conclusion Given inherent immunogenicity, cell cycle checkpoint deficiencies and radiosensitivity, MCC is an ideal tumor to test the potential of DDRi to overcome ICI-resistance. Our preliminary data suggest that ATRi and ATMi may effectively potentiate immunogenic cell death in a VN-MCC cell line when paired with 2-4 Gy radiation, yet abrogate IFNβ production with higher radiation doses in vitro suggesting higher doses coupled with DDRi induce non-immunogenic cell death. DNA-PKi was the most potent radiosensitizer in 3 MCC cell lines by cell viability assays but less effective at inducing IFNβ. In vitro studies are ongoing to support future animal studies as we explore a potential trial for DDRi in ICI-resistant MCC.
Dam-Break Flood in a Prismatic Dry Channel

A mathematical model is presented for the prediction of the flood wave resulting from the instantaneous break of a dam in a prismatic, dry channel of general parabolic cross section. It consists of the numerical integration of the characteristic equations over the irregular grid formed by the characteristic lines using a predictor-corrector scheme. The solution is advanced towards the wave front by a gradual refinement of the characteristics net for reasons of accuracy and economy. Finally, the solution is extended over a short region to the wave tip, which is characterized by zero depth, using a simplified form of the momentum equation resulting from physical considerations in the wave-tip region. Computed results are compared with experimental and theoretical results obtained by others. Corroboration with experimental results is generally good. The solution can be advanced in time until the negative wave propagating into the still water reaches the upstream end of the reservoir.
Exploring the Factor Structure of the Personality Assessment Inventory

This study examined the factor structure of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI). Factor analyses were conducted on all 22 PAI scales, as well as on the 11 clinical scales alone. When analyzing all scales, four factors related to general psychological distress, narcissism, impulsivity, and social functioning were obtained. An analysis of only clinical scales yielded three factors associated with distress, impulsivity, and substance abuse. Although methods other than those utilized by Morey were employed for the factor extractions and rotations, the latent factors derived in this study were very similar to those reported previously. These findings support the stability of the underlying factor structure of the PAI.
Market Orientation, Innovation, and Dynamism from an Ownership and Gender Approach: Evidence from Mexico

For businesses where resources are scarce and civil conditions are currently unstable, such as the Mexican state of affairs, striving for business practices that embrace a market orientation (MO) becomes critical to maintaining market share or even business survival. This paper addresses whether MO, innovation, and dynamism levels substantially differ among small businesses in Mexico, from an ownership (manager vs. owner) and gender approach. Our results show that there are no gender differences about market orientation. However, women in small business settings seemed to be more attuned with the need for businesses to be innovative and dynamic. Owners and managers demonstrated a similar degree of market orientation, innovation, and dynamism; reflecting the importance placed on small businesses to be a source of income despite being an owner or manager.
Age-related defects in Th1 and Th2 cytokine production by human T cells can be dissociated from altered frequencies of CD45RA+ and CD45RO+ T cell subsets

Abstract The present study investigated whether age-related changes in the production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines by human T cells might be linked to altered frequencies of naive (CD45RA + ) and memory (CD45RO + ) T cell subsets. T cells from healthy elderly humans ( n =32) stimulated with anti-CD3e monoclonal antibody OKT3 plus PMA produced significantly lower levels of IL-2 and IFNγ (Th1 type) and of IL-4 (Th2 type) cytokines compared with T cells from young subjects. Although considerable heterogeneity was observed in the levels of cytokines produced by activated T cells from elderly individuals, linear regression analysis failed to demonstrate any significant shift in Th1 to Th2 type cytokine profiles of human T cells during aging. Sufficient T cells were available from eighteen elderly subjects to quantitate the levels of cytokine production in parallel with flow cytometry analysis of the frequencies of CD45RA + naive and CD45RO + memory T cells. Compared with the group of young subjects, the elderly group exhibited significant decreases in the frequencies of naive T cells with reciprocal increases in memory T cells. However, defects in Th1 and Th2 cytokine production were not significantly correlated with altered frequencies of naive/memory T cells among elderly individuals. In addition, those elderly individuals with normal frequencies of naive/memory T cells exhibited decreases in cytokine production comparable to the reductions observed for elderly donors with alterations in the frequencies of naive/memory T cells. These findings suggest that age-related defects in Th1 and Th2 cytokine production cannot be attributed entirely to alterations in the frequencies of naive/memory T cell subsets and point toward intrinsic aberrancies within human T cell cytokine networks during aging.
EBV lymphoproliferative disease of host origin after haploidentical stem cell transplantation

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLPD), due to the reactivation of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), is a serious complication. The risk of the disorder increases with T-cell depletion methods, mismatched hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and immunosuppression. In contrast to solid organ transplantation, where EBV is typically of recipient origin, the source of the EBV in HSCT recipients is donor-derived B-lymphocytes. In this report, we describe a 15-year-old girl who underwent HSCT from her father as treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). She subsequently developed disseminated PTLPD involving multiple organ and nodal sites. Her neoplastic lymphoblasts were host-derived and refractory to rituximab treatment due to lack of CD20 expression. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;49:869–872. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The role of crystallography in drug design.

Structure and function are intimately related. Nowhere is this more important than the area of bioactive molecules. It has been shown that the enantioselectivity of an enzyme is directly related to its chirality. X-ray crystallography is the only method for determining the “absolute” configuration of a molecule and is the most comprehensive technique available to determine the structure of any molecule at atomic resolution. Results from crystallographic studies provide unambiguous, accurate, and reliable 3-dimensional structural parameters, which are prerequisites for rational drug design and structure-based functional studies.
The analysis of radioactive decay with a small number of counts by the method of maximum likelihood

Abstract A general procedure is presented for the analysis of ultra low-level counting data for which the time of occurence of each event is measured. The basic formalism is developed, methods of analysis are described, and an example of the application of the technique to simulated data, similar to that obtained in a solar neutrino experiment, is given.
Mobile gesture interaction using wearable tactile displays

We present an interaction method for mobile gesture interaction using wearable tactile displays. We are attempting to show that wrist-worn tactile displays provide adequate feedback to enable reversible and error-resistant gesture-based interaction. In support of this effort, we present pilot study results demonstrating users' sensitivity in perceiving vibratory directional patterns on the wrist.
The acute effect of an oral inotropic placebo on the exercise capacity of patients with chronic cardiac failure

Uncontrolled studies have suggested that the newer oral phosphodiesterase inhibitors milrinone and enoximone acutely improve exercise performance in patients with severe chronic cardiac failure. To determine whether an oral placebo presented as an inotropic agent could acutely enhance exercise capacity, two separate groups of stable heart failure patients were studied by serial exercise testing and respiratory gas exchange analysis. Group 1 had nine patients studied four hours after a single oral dose of placebo, and group 2 had ten patients retested after one to two weeks of placebo therapy. No significant change was seen in the mean exercise time, mean peak oxygen consumption, and the mean oxygen consumption at anaerobic threshold after placebo administration in both group 1 and group 2 patients. Improvements in exercise time, peak oxygen consumption, and oxygen consumption at anaerobic threshold occurred in five patients in group 1 and seven patients in group 2. The improvements exceeded the baseline variability of 10 percent in three group 1 patients. Among group 2 patients, the increase in exercise time, peak oxygen consumption, and oxygen consumption at anaerobic threshold exceeded 10 percent in six, four, and four patients, respectively. Thus, stable chronic heart failure patients can achieve a true baseline exercise capacity. Small improvements in exercise performance seen acutely after oral inotropic drug therapy in individual heart failure patients must be interpreted with caution, as they may be due to a placebo effect.
On the amount of information in rotational relaxation experiments with application to microwave transient T1 and T2 rates

A variety of gas phase rotational relaxation phenomena are related at the microscopic level by intermolecular forces and binary collision dynamics. By making the infinite order sudden (IOS) approximation to collision dynamics, the different phenomena can be expressed in terms of a few fundamental ’’dynamical’’ parameters and these can be chosen conveniently as the state‐to‐state rates out of the lowest level. Microwave transient T1 and T2 rates for a linear rigid rotor perturbed by an atom are considered explicitly. For systems where the IOS approximation is valid, i.e., where many rotational levels are energetically accessible, it is found that T1 and T2 measurements are expected to give rather similar rates, regardless of the spectral transition and in the presence or absence of an external (Stark) field; further, these measurements basically reflect the total rate of collisional excitation out of the lowest level. In principle, the small changes in T2 between different spectral lines or between Stark s...
QM−FE and Molecular Dynamics Calculations on Catechol O-Methyltransferase: Free Energy of Activation in the Enzyme and in Aqueous Solution and Regioselectivity of the Enzyme-Catalyzed Reaction

We present combined quantum mechanical and free energy (QM−FE) as well as molecular dynamics (MD) calculations to investigate the methyl transfer reaction catalyzed by the enzyme catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT). The calculated transition state free energy, ΔG‡, of 24.5 kcal/mol for the enzymatic reaction is in reasonable agreement with experiment (18 kcal/mol), and the level of agreement improves when the substrates are allowed to slightly deviate from their molecular mechanical energy minimized interpolated geometries. The calculated ΔG‡ for the reaction in water is 5 kcal/mol higher than that found in the enzyme when cratic free energy terms are not considered, and this difference increases to 14−18 kcal/mol when they are included, in very good agreement with the estimated rate enhancement due to enzyme catalysis of 1011 (corresponding to ΔΔG‡ ≈ 15 kcal/mol). In contrast to trypsin, studied earlier by QM−FE methods, the calculated gas phase ΔG‡ is significantly lower than observed in the enzyme or i...
A review of multi-criterion approaches to FMS scheduling problems

Abstract An increasing number of organizations are implementing Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMSs) to achieve competitive advantage. The implementation process can be viewed in a hierarchical perspective: ranging from design problems at the top level to scheduling and control problems at the lower level. In recent years, researchers have focused a significant amount of attention on FMS scheduling problems. However, the major share of those studies considered FMS scheduling in the context of a single performance criterion. Though several researchers have synthesized the literature involving single criteria, the literature with multi-criterion approaches has not been consolidated and reviewed. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the applicability of multi-criterion approaches to the production scheduling problems of an FMS and review the pertinent literature on FMS scheduling involving multiple objectives. Some areas for future research are also identified.
Evaluation of HLA-haplotype disparate parental marrow grafts depleted of T lymphocytes by differential agglutination with a soybean lectin and E-rosette depletion for the treatment of severe combined immunodeficiency.

Abstract. The factors that impact upon successful bone marrow transplantation leading to immunologic reconstitution in severe combined immune deficiency (SCID), Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, and in other lethal congenital immunodeficiencies are reviewed. Evidence is presented that graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) can be abrogated by the depletion of T cells, even from histoincompatible marrow grafts. However, graft resistance or restricted immune reconstitution has been observed with significant frequency. The bases for T cell reconstitution and limitations in B cell humoral immune recovery in the postgrafting period are reviewed, together with emerging evidence that pretransplant cytoreduction might obviate some of these problems.
Multiple Dendritic Cell (DC) Subpopulations in Human Gingiva and Association of Mature DCs with CD4+ T-cells in situ:

Gingival epithelium is a site of active trafficking of Langerhans cells (LCs), while the lamina propria in chronic periodontitis (CP) contains CD83+ mature dendritic cells (mDCs) and CD4+ T-cells. The immune cells that contribute to the mDCs, and whether mDCs engage with T-cells in situ, are unclear. Using several immunohistochemical approaches, combined with fluorescence-, light-, and scanning laser confocal-microscopy, we show that, in addition to LCs, the gingiva contains dermal DCs (DDCs) in the lamina propria; moreover, DDCs increase in number during CP. Furthermore, DDCs, LCs, and B-cells co-express CD83 in CP and contribute to the mDC pool. Double-staining for CD83 and CD4 revealed that mDCs associate with clusters of CD4+ T-cells in the lamina propria. Analysis of these data suggests that multiple DC subsets mature in the gingiva and that mature DCs engage in antigen presentation with T-cells in chronic periodontitis.
Comparison of ceftriaxone with penicillin for antibiotic prophylaxis for compound mandible fractures

Abstract Purpose. The purpose of the study was to compare the efficacy and cost of two antibiotic regimens for prophylaxis of compound mandible fractures: 1 gm/day ceftriaxone and 2 million U penicillin G every 4 hours. Design. A prospective study of 90 patients with compound mandible fractures was performed. The patients were randomized to the two antibiotic regimens. The surgical procedures were performed by oral/maxillofacial surgery residents at a large urban training center. Standard treatment consisted of open reduction with either bone plates or wires, with all patients receiving 6 weeks of maxillomandibular fixation. The patients were monitored at 2-week intervals for 8 weeks by two of the authors, who were blinded to which antibiotic regimen the patient was assigned. Results. Two patients in each group had postoperative infections within the first 2 weeks of treatment. The infections resolved with local wound care, removal of internal fixation devices, and oral antibiotics. After resolution of the infection each patient had a malunion, which was managed without additional complications. The cost difference between the two treatment regimens was approximately $350 per day. Conclusion. Ceftriaxone was noted to be an efficacious and cost-effective treatment alternative to penicillin G for compound mandible fracture antibiotic prophylaxis.
The Endogenous Metabolism of Hens and Capons

Abstract In view of the scarcity of data in the literature as to the value of various proteins for poultry feeding, experimental work on this phase of the problem was undertaken in this laboratory. It was planned first to study the endogenous nitrogen excretion of birds on a nitrogen-free diet to obtain a figure representative of their excretion in terms of milligrams of nitrogen excreted daily per kilogram of live weight. Preliminary trials with mature birds indicated that this figure would approach a constant value. The chickens were then to be placed on a ration containing a known amount of protein from a certain source and the total nitrogen of their excrement again determined. Then, the difference between the nitrogen excreted when a protein was included in the diet, and when on a nitrogen-free ration, divided by the amount of nitrogen fed per kilogram would be the unutilized portion. When this . . .
Transverse structural trends along the Oregon convergent margin: Implications for Cascadia earthquake potential and crustal rotations

A remarkable set of west-northwest-trending left-lateral strike-slip faults intersects the Cascadia subduction zone. Three of these faults have been mapped off northern and central Oregon by using seismic reflection, SeaMARC-1A sidescan sonar, and SeaBeam bathymetry. These faults are highly oblique to the north-south structural grain of the active accretionary wedge. One of them has 6 km of horizontal slip; the average slip rate is 7-10 mm/yr. The faults cut the subducting Juan de Fuca plate, and can be traced into the North American plate. Folds that deform late Pleistocene and Holocene sediments on the upper continental slope and shelf strike north-northwest to west-northwest. Some of the west-northwest-trending folds are associated with the throughgoing strike-slip faults, whereas other northwest-trending folds are approximately normal to the plate convergence direction. Many of these folds are mapped across the shelf, and several active shelf synclines project toward Oregon's coastal bays, where marsh subsidence events are inferred to be the result of great subduction-zone earthquakes. These subsidence events may actually record the growth of local synclines, possibly as secondary effects of slip on the megathrusts. The authors postulate that shortening of the forearc region by clockwise tectonic rotation, associated with movement of the left-lateral faultsmore » and folding of the upper plate, may accommodate a significant amount of plate convergence.« less
Large‐scale chemical evolution of the Arctic vortex during the 1999/2000 winter: HALOE/POAM III Lagrangian photochemical modeling for the SAGE III—Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment (SOLVE) campaign

Abstract : The LaRC Lagrangian Chemical Transport Model (LaRC LCTM) is used to simulate the kinematic and chemical evolution of an ensemble of trajectories initialized from Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) and Polar Ozone and Aerosol Measurement (POAM) III atmospheric soundings over the SAGE III-Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment (SOLVE) campaign period. Initial mixing ratios of species which are not measured by HALOE or POAM III are specified using sunrise and sunset constituent CH(4) and constituent PV regressions obtained from the LaRC IMPACT model, a global three dimensional general circulation and photochemical model. Ensemble averaging of the trajectory chemical characteristics provides a vortex-average perspective of the photochemical state of the Arctic vortex. The vortex-averaged evolution of ozone, chlorine, nitrogen species, and ozone photochemical loss rates is presented. Enhanced chlorine catalyzed ozone loss begins in mid-January above 500 K, and the altitude of the peak loss gradually descends during the rest of the simulation. Peak vortex averaged loss rates of over 60 ppbv/day occur in early March at 450 K. Vortex averaged loss rates decline after mid- March. The accumulated photochemical ozone loss during the period from 1 December 1999 to 30 March 2000 peaks at 450 K with net losses of near 2.2 ppmv. The predicted distributions of CH4, O(3), denitrification, and chlorine activation are compared to the distributions obtained from in situ measurements to evaluate the accuracy of the simulations. The comparisons show best agreement when diffusive tendencies are included in the model calculations, highlighting the importance of this process in the Arctic vortex. Sensitivity tests examining the large-scale influence of orographically generated gravity wave temperature anomalies are also presented. Results from this sensitivity study show that mountain-wave temperature perturbations contribute an additional 2-8% O(3) loss during the 1999/2000 winter.
Laser system for a high duty cycle photoinjector

Abstract We have developed a solid-state laser system that produces a 1 MHz pulse train of 800 equal amplitude pulses with 25 μJ per pulse at λ=1054 nm ; the repetition rate is 1 Hz. The laser pulse train is produced by a mode-locked Nd:YLF oscillator, synchronized to the phase of the photoinjector RF. The pulses are amplified in a Nd : glass multipass amplifier followed by a two-pass amplifier. The laser system uses chirped pulse amplification to produce 2 ps pulses. After two stages of second harmonic generation to λ=263 nm and transport losses, 5 μJ per pulse of UV are available at the Cs2Te photocathode of the RF gun. The photocathode quantum efficiency is in the 2–6% range, and electron bunches with charge in excess of 10 nC have been extracted during photoinjector operation.
ESOPHAGEAL ATRESIA WITH TRACHEO-ESOPHAGEAL FISTULA—A REVIEW OF CRITICAL CARE, ANESTHETIC AND SURGICAL MANAGEMENT

We reviewed the critical and perioperative management of 57 newborns and infants with esophageal atresia (EA) and tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) during the last 16 years (1970-1985). The common anomaly of proximal EA with distal TEF was present in 54; 3 had the less common H type fisutla. The major preoperative problem was pneumonia ± atelectasis. There was no relationship between intubation technique and subsequent ventilatory problems. Even though serious ventilatory problems after an initial gastrostomy have been reported, no such problem was found in this review. Invasive monitoring (arterial ± central venous lines) was used more often in recent years. When compared to previous reports the overall one-year mortality was significantly better for babies weighing ≤ 2.5 kgs ( 2.5 kgs continues to be good (97%). Improved survival maybe related to better monitoring, improved surgical technique, cardiac and nutritional support. Prophylactic esophageal dilation of the repaired atretic segment was done routinely and may have decreased the incidence of chronic aspiration and mortality. However, there was a difference in mortality and morbidity between primary and staged repairs. With the latter, the mortality and morbidity was 8.9% and 89% respectively. With primary repair only 3.6% and 57%. The patients who had staged repair were of younger gestational age, weighed less and had a higher incidence of preoperative pulmonary problems.