cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapid allergen delivery with photomechanical waves for inducing allergic skin reactions in the hairless guinea pig animal model.

Abstract Background: Patch testing is the confirmatory procedure for allergic contact dermatitis. The test requires the application of chemicals under occlusion for approximately 48 hours to maximize penetration, although it can also produce irritation. Photomechanical waves (PW) have been shown to render the stratum corneum transiently permeable and facilitate the delivery of macromolecules into the epidermis. This alternative might reduce prolonged occlusion of the skin to minimize irritancy, while retaining the sensitivity of the test. Objective: PW was used to facilitate the delivery of an allergen into the skin in vivo. Methods: The allergic skin reaction using PW delivery was compared with 5-minute and 21-hour occlusion in a sensitized hairless albino guinea pig model. The pigs were sensitized by intradermal injection of (0.01%) dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and topical administration (0.1%, 1 week later) of the hapten. One month later, testing for the allergic response was performed by the administration with PW of 10 [mu ]L of 0.1% DNCB. Results: Our results show that there was an allergic reaction for the 24 hour occlusion or PW delivery of the antigen. In contrast, no response was observed for the 5-minute occlusion with the antigen. Conclusion: The rapid delivery of antigens with PW can improve the test for the diagnosis of contact dermatitis.
Universal approximations for TSP, Steiner tree, and set cover

We introduce a notion of universality in the context of optimization problems with partial information. Universality is a framework for dealing with uncertainty by guaranteeing a certain quality of goodness for all possible completions of the partial information set. Universal variants of optimization problems can be defined that are both natural and well-motivated. We consider universal versions of three classical problems: TSP, Steiner Tree and Set Cover.We present a polynomial-time algorithm to find a universal tour on a given metric space over n vertices such that for any subset of the vertices, the sub-tour induced by the subset is within O(log4n/log log n) of an optimal tour for the subset. Similarly, we show that given a metric space over n vertices and a root vertex, we can find a universal spanning tree such that for any subset of vertices containing the root, the sub-tree induced by the subset is within O(log4n/log log n) of an optimal Steiner tree for the subset. Our algorithms rely on a new notion of sparse partitions, that may be of independent interest. For the special case of doubling metrics, which includes both constant-dimensional Euclidean and growth-restricted metrics, our algorithms achieve an O(log n) upper bound. We complement our results for the universal Steiner tree problem with a lower bound of Ω(log n/log log n) that holds even for n vertices on the plane. We also show that a slight generalization of the universal Steiner Tree problem is coNP-hard and present nearly tight upper and lower bounds for a universal version of Set Cover.
Comparison of N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V activities in Rous sarcoma-transformed baby hamster kidney (RS-BHK) and BHK cells.

Recent studies have desmonstrated that Rous sarcoma virus-transformed baby hamster kidney (RS-BHK) cells express twofold higher levels of those N-linked oligosac-charides that contain the sequence [GlcNAc-β(1,6)Man (1,6)] compared to nontrans-formed parental BHK cells (Pierce and Arango, J. Biol. Chem. 261, 10772 [1986]). We have investigated in RS-BHK and BHK cells the activity of UDP-GlcNAc:α-D-mannoside β(l,6)N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V, the enzyme that begins the synthesis of the sequence that is increased in the RS-BHK cells. We have measured GnT V activity using UDP- [3H]- GlcNAc and a synthetic oligosaccharide acceptor, GlcNAcβ(1,2)Man α(1,6)Manβ-O- (Ch2)8COOCH3, separating the radioactive product by a newly devised reverse-phase chromatographic technique. Assayed under optimal conditions, the specific activity of GnT V is about fourfold higher in RS-BHK sonicates than in BHK sonicates, suggesting that this increase in activity may be the primary mechanism that causes the increase in [GlcNAcβ(1,6) Man] sequences in the RS-BHK cells. The apparent Km, values of the enzymes in RS-BHK and BHK cell sonicates for UDP-GIcNAc and the synthetic acceptor are similar, as are the pH optima. These results suggest that the increase in GnT V-specific activity in RS-BHK cells is not caused by the presence in these cells of a GnT V with markedly different kinetic properties.
Resource Allocation in OFDMA with Time-Varying Channel and Bursty Arrivals

This paper considers the issue of delay optimal subcarrier allocation in OFDMA wireless networks when the arrivals and channels are stochastic. Our objective is to minimize the long-term average packet delay over multiple time epochs. In previous studies, we have shown that the optimal policy is complicated and unknown. However, based on the insights learned from a simple on-off channel model, we provide heuristic policies that use different degrees of channel and queue state information. More importantly, these examples show how the significance of queue vs. channel state information varies with the traffic load. This is of extreme practical interest when one considers the overhead associated with channel estimation and feedback.
Cresceptron: a self-organizing neural network which grows adaptively

Cresceptron uses a hierarchical framework to grow neural networks automatically, adaptively, and incrementally through learning. At every level of the hierarchy, new concepts are detected automatically and the network grows by creating new neurons and synapses which memorize the new concepts and their context. The training samples are generalized to other perceptually equivalent items through hierarchical tolerance of deviation. The neural network recognizes the learned items and their variations by hierarchically associating the learned knowledge with the input. It segments the recognized items from the input through back training along the response paths. >
Integrating scheduling and physical design into a coherent compilation cycle for reconfigurable computing architectures

Advances in the FPGA technology, both in terms of device capacity and architecture, have resulted in introduction of reconfigurable computing machines, where the hardware adapts itself to the running application to gain speedup. To keep up with the ever-growing performance expectations of such systems, designers need new methodologies and tools for developing reconfigurable computing systems (RCS). This paper addresses the need for fast compilation and physical design phase to be used in application development / debugging / testing cycle for RCS. We present a high-level synthesis approach that is integrated with placement, making the compilation cycle much faster. On the average, our tool generates the VHDL code (and the corresponding placement information) from the data flow graph of a program in less than a minute. By compromising 30% in the clock frequency of the circuit, we can achieve about 10 times speedup in the Xilinx placement phase, and 2.5 times overall speedup in the Xilinx place-and-route phase, a reasonable trade-off when developing RCS applications.
Design of efficient robust network codes for multicast connections

We consider the problem of establishing reliable multicast connections across a communication network. Our goal is to provide instantaneous recovery from single edge failures. With instantaneous recovery, all destination nodes can decode the packets sent by the source node even if one of the edges in the network fails, without the need of retransmission or rerouting. We build on the novel technique of network coding that offers significant advantages over standard solutions such as disjoint path routing and diversity coding. We begin by focusing on the case in which all network edges have equal capacity. For this case we present a network coding algorithm that constructs a robust network code over a small field. The algorithm takes advantage of special properties of the Maximum Rank Distance codes. Second, we consider a case of non-uniform edge capacities. We show that for the special case in which a small number of packets need to be transmitted from the source to destination nodes, special combinatorial properties of minimum coding networks can be exploited for constructing efficient robust network codes.
Modeling of frequency dependent losses in two-port and three-port inductors on silicon

New compact model forms for two-port and three-port symmetric inductors fabricated on silicon are discussed in this paper. These new models incorporate a frequency independent RL network that mimics the skin effect behavior of transmission lines on conductive substrates and can accurately predict the inductive behavior as well as the one-port single-ended and the one-port differential Q of these devices at microwave and millimeter wave frequencies. The new models are validated on inductors fabricated in a thick plated copper process.
ADDITIONS TO THE CANADIAN EPHEMEROPTERA

Abstract New provincial distribution records are provided for 40 Ephemeroptera species in Canada based on the examination of specimens held in the Canadian National Collection of Insects. Nine species are newly reported for Alberta, four for British Columbia, five for Manitoba, 12 for New Brunswick, 10 for Nova Scotia, two for Ontario, four for Quebec, and one for Prince Edward Island. Of these, Ameletus amador Mayo, Cinygmula reticulata McDunnough, and Procloeon vicinum (Hagen) are reported from Canada for the first time.
Structural MRI Correlates of Episodic Memory Processes in Parkinson's Disease Without Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Author(s): Pirogovsky-Turk, Eva; Filoteo, J Vincent; Litvan, Irene; Harrington, Deborah L | Abstract: BackgroundChanges in episodic memory are common early in Parkinson's disease (PD) and may be a risk factor for future cognitive decline. Although medial temporal lobe (MTL) memory and frontostriatal (FS) executive systems are thought to play different roles in distinct components of episodic memory impairment in PD, no study has investigated whether different aspects of memory functioning are differentially associated with MTL and FS volumes in nondemented patients without mild cognitive impairment (PD-woMCI).ObjectivesThe present study investigated MRI markers of different facets of memory functioning in 48 PD-woMCI patients and 42 controls.MethodsRegional volumes were measured in structures comprising the MTL and FS systems and then correlated with key indices of memory from the California Verbal Learning Test.ResultsIn PD-woMCI patients, memory was impaired only for verbal learning, which was not associated with executive, attention/working memory, or visuospatial functioning. Despite an absence of cortical atrophy, smaller right MTL volumes in patients were associated with poorer verbal learning, long delayed free recall, long delayed cued recall, and recognition memory hits and false positives. Smaller right pars triangularis (inferior frontal) volumes were also associated with poorer long delayed cued recall and recognition memory hits. These relationships were not found in controls.ConclusionsThe findings indicate that MTL volumes are sensitive to subtle changes in almost all facets of memory in PD-woMCI, whereas FS volumes are sensitive only to memory performances in cued-testing formats.
Paleochannel patterns inferred from alluvial deposits; a critical evaluation

Interpretation of paleochannel patterns from ancient alluvium involves reconstruction of sinuosity and degree of braiding. It is emphasized here that the geometry, flow, and sedimentary processes of the different channel patterns form a continuum, such that similarities between their deposits are more significant than differences. While many commonly cited sedimentary criteria for distinguishing channel patterns are shown to be invalid, the following are considered useful: 1) proportion of channel fills relative to lateral-accretion deposits, which increases with degree of braiding; 2) mean grain size of channel fills relative to lateral-accretion deposits, which decreases with increasing sinuosity; 3) paleocurrent variance, which may indicate sinuosity; and 4) bankfull discharge, slope, and width/depth of paleochannels throughout the channel belt, as long as they can be quantitatively reconstructed from channel-bar and channel-fill deposits. Utilization of these criteria requires examination of completely preserved sections of channel belts and overbank deposits in large outcrops. Presently existing facies models do not convey the diversity of different channel types and facies; those that are not three-dimensional and lack scales and paleocurrent information are of limited value.
Emergency medical services assessment and treatment of children with special health care needs before and after specialized paramedic training.

Introduction: This study evaluates whether a continuing education program for paramedics, focusing on Children with Special Health Care Needs, improved paramedics' assessment and management. Methods: Emergency Medical Services responses for children, 21 years of age or younger, with a congenital or acquired condition or a chronic physical or mental illness, were identified. The responses before and after the specialized education program were reviewed by a multidisciplinary team to evaluate assessment and management of the children. Interreviewer agreement between the nurses on the team and between the physicians on the team was assessed. We also evaluated whether there was an improvement in assessment and care by paramedics completing our education program. Results: Significant improvement was seen in appropriate assessment and overall care by paramedics who completed our specialized education program. Reviewers also noted an appropriate rating for the initial assessment category more often for responses involving paramedics who had the training. Agreement on whether assessment and treatment was appropriate for all five reviewers varied considerably, ranging from 32% to 93%. Overall there was a high percentage of agreement (>70%) between the nurses and between the physicians on most items. However, kappa statistics did not generally reflect good agreement except for most of the focused assessment items and some treatment and procedure items. Conclusion: Most of the documentation on the EMS records indicated appropriate assessment and treatment during all responses for Children with Special Health Care Needs. Nevertheless, the results indicate that paramedics may improve their assessment and management of these children after specialized continuing education.
Disuse atrophy in the hibernating golden-mantled ground squirrel, Spermophilus lateralis

Disuse (inactivity, bed rest, and spaceflight) may lead to a loss of muscle mass and a decrease in oxidative capacity in skeletal muscle. If such changes were to occur in hibernating animals, both locomotor and thermogenic function would be compromised. Muscle masses and oxidative capacities (as assessed by citrate synthase activity) were measured in the gastrocnemius and semitendinosus muscles, cardiac muscle (ventricle), and brown fat (axillary pad) in a group (n = 7) of prehibernating ground squirrels (Spermophilus lateralis) and after 6 mo of hibernation (n = 8). Hibernation produced significant atrophy in the gastrocnemius (14%) and semitendinosus (42%) muscles. Cardiac tissue increased (21%) in mass, as did brown adipose tissue (150%). That such changes were not due simply to fluid shifts was evidenced by similar protein concentrations between groups. In contrast to many other disuse studies, oxidative capacity was increased significantly in the gastrocnemius (65%) and semitendinosus (37%). Citrate synthase was also higher in cardiac tissue of hibernators (20%) but was not significantly different in brown fat.
Abstract 1395: CD16+ dendritic cells (DC) promote squamous carcinoma cell (SCC) survival, and SCC affect DC phenotype and migration

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL In the inflammatory mucosal microenvironment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), dendritic cells (DC) are prominent; they express CD16, and are usually in direct contact with tumor cells. Mucosal and inflammation-associated DC develop from monocytes, and monocyte-derived DC are used in HNSCC immunotherapy. However, beyond apoptotic tumor cell uptake and presentation of tumor antigens by DC, HNSCC cell interactions with DC are poorly understood. Using co-cultures of monocyte-derived DC and established HNSCC cell lines we found that carcinoma cells induced significant increases in CD16 expression on DC while promoting a CD1a+CD86dim immature phenotype, similar to that observed in HNSCC specimens. Moreover, HNSCC cells strongly affected DC migration, both steady-state and CCL21-induced. The effects of carcinoma cells on migration were donor-dependent, and CCL21-induced migration directly correlated with HNSCC-mediated effects on CCR7 and CD38 expression on DC. Most remarkably, the numbers of live detached HNSCC cells were orders of magnitude higher in DC-HNSCC co-cultures than in parallel HNSCC cell cultures without DC. This study provides a novel insight into the outcomes of DC-HNSCC interactions relevant to the tumor microenvironment. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1395. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1395
Knowledge and attitude regarding smoking control among employees in four kinds of public places in Beijing

Objective To know awareness of knowledge and attitude regarding smoking control among employees in public places of Beijing to provide relevant information for more effective smoking control there.Methods Forty-five public places of four kinds,i.e.,public bath rooms,restaurant,karaoke bars and cyber cafe,in Tongzhou district,Beijing were chosen for this study.A random sample of 507 employees from the public places mentioned above were recruited to survey their awareness of knowledge and attitude regarding smoking control by anonymous questionnaires in October 2009.Results Over 70 percent of the employees surveyed knew that smoking or passive smoking could cause lung cancer and bronchitis,while fewer people knew that it may cause other diseases such as cardio-cerebrovascular diseases,gastric cancer and hypertension.In addition,43.2 percent of the employees didn't know what kinds of diseases could be caused by passive smoking in women.Awareness of association between tobacco and related disease was only 11.4 percent among them,and 75.1 of them knew which public places where smoking was completely forbidden set in the "Rules on Stop Smoking in Public Places in Beijing".And,90.9 percent of the employees supported 'no-smoking' in workplaces,while 40.7 percent of them supported complete "no-smoking" there,with the reasons of that complete smoking ban in workplaces would be benefit for health.Conclusions Awareness of knowledge regarding smoking control and proportion of them supporting complete "no-smoking" in workplaces are relatively lower among the employees in four kinds of public places in Beijing,so it is still difficult to implement complete smoking ban there.
Haftung für fehlerhafte Arzneimittel und Medizin produkte

Die Ursprunge des allgemeinen amerikanischen Produkthaftungsrechts sowie insbesondere die der Fahrlassigkeit (negligence) datieren zuruck in das Jahr 1842. In der englischen Entscheidung Winterbottom v. Wright wurde der Grundsatz aufgestellt, dass eine Person, die durch ein defektes Produkt verletzt wurde, mangels unmittelbarer vertraglicher Beziehungen zum Hersteller keinen Anspruch aus negligence habe (privity of contract). Mit dem Beginn des industriellen Zeitalters ubernahmen die amerikanischen Einzelstaaten diese Rechtsregel und begrenzten somit die Fahrlassigkeitshaftung bei Verauserung defekter Produkte. Damit brachten sie den individualistischen Charakter und den Geist dieser neuen Nation sowie deren Wunsch zum Ausdruck, die in den Kinderschuhen steckende Industrie zu schutzen. Mit zunehmender Massenproduktion, Arbeitsteilung und mehrstufigem Absatz von Produkten stellte sich allerdings fur den Kaufer das Problem, dem Hersteller ohne Anspruch und somit schutzlos gegenuberzustehen. Diesem Dilemma versuchte die Rechtsprechung entgegenzuwirken, indem sie auf das Bestehen einer vertraglichen Beziehung verzichtete, wenn das fahrlassige Verhalten des Beklagten eine „unmittelbare Gefahr fur das Leben anderer“ zur Folge hatte, wie beispielsweise der Verkauf eines als harmloses Mittel etikettierten Giftes. In der Folgezeit wurde diese Rechtsprechung auf Schadigungen ausgedehnt, die durch Produkte entstanden, die als potentiell gefahrlich (inherently dangerous) eingestuft wurden, wie Medikamente, Sprengstoffe, Gifte und Waffen.
Chemotherapeutic Targeting of the Transforming Growth Factor-β Pathway in Breast Cancers.

SUMMARY TGF-β is a multifunctional cytokine that plays an essential role in regulating mammary gland development, morphogenesis, differentiation and involution. TGF-β also regulates mammary gland homeostasis and prevents its transformation by prohibiting dysregulated cell cycle progression and inducing apoptosis; it also creates cell microenvironments that readily inhibit cell migration, invasion and metastasis. Interestingly, while early-stage mammary tumors remain sensitive to the tumor-suppressing activities of TGF-β, late-stage breast cancers become insensitive to the anticancer functions of this cytokine and instead rely upon TGF-β to drive disease and metastatic progression. This switch in TGF-β function is known as the ‘TGF-β paradox’ and represents the rationale for developing chemotherapies to inactivate the TGF-β pathway and its oncogenic functions in late-stage breast cancers. Here we outline the molecular mechanisms that manifest the TGF-β paradox and discuss the challenges associated with the...
Evaluating patient distress from cancer-related fatigue: an instrument development study.

Purpose/objectives To develop a clinically useful and psychometrically sound tool for the measurement of the distress from fatigue in patients with cancer. Design Instrument development of a numeric rating scale to assess cancer-related fatigue (CRF) distress. Setting A comprehensive cancer center and a Veterans Administration hospital. Sample The interview sample consisted of 17 adults with cancer experiencing CRF. The sample for instrument testing consisted of 221 adults with cancer. Twenty-nine different types of cancers were among the diagnoses. Seventy-eight percent of the participants were receiving some form of cancer treatment. The mean age was 60. Methods The Cancer-Related Fatigue Distress Scale (CRFDS) was developed from 23 in-depth audiotaped interviews with patients experiencing CRF. Krippendorff's content analysis procedures were used for interview analysis. Twenty-three items were generated. Five cancer survivors assessed content validity. Factor analysis was used to assess construct validity, and coefficient alpha was used to estimate the reliability of the CRFDS. Findings Factor analysis resulted in all items loading on one factor, indicating a single scale. The coefficient alpha was 0.98 after the elimination of three items. Conclusions The CRFDS has strong content validity, high reliability, and very good construct validity. Implications for nursing practice The CRFDS is a clinically useful and psychometrically sound tool for the measurement of CRF distress. This tool is clinically useful because of its brevity (20 items), clear instructions that required no training to use, and a readability score at the third-grade level.
Immunophenotypic differences between neoplastic and non-neoplastic androgen-producing cells containing and lacking Reinke crystals

We performed a detailed morphologic, immunophenotypic, and endocrine characterization of neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions of androgen-producing cells known to harbor or lack Reinke crystals (RCs) with an aim to provide further insight into the nature of these cells and crystals. Study cases were selected from the files of participating hospitals and subclassified according to current classifications: 20 with Leydig cell tumors (LCTs), 2 with testicular adrenal rest tumors (TARTs), 2 with testicular tumors of adrenogenital syndrome (TTAGS), and 2 with androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS). An extensive immunophenotypic panel including markers used in sex cord-stromal cell tumors, androgen hormones, enzymes, and receptors was applied to the cases and 10 non-tumoral adrenal glands. Non-tumoral tissues were scored separately. RCs were present in 90 % of LCT cases and all cases with normal Leydig cells; RCs stained specifically with calretinin and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3BHSD) and were present only in cells with high concomitant expression of both proteins, a phenotype unique to Leydig cells and LCTs. Leydig cells from AIS cases lack RCs due to decreased expression of 3BHSD. Calretinin is decreased in testicular adrenal-like tumors and absent in normal adrenocortical cells, which explain why they lack RCs. Calretinin expression in androgen-producing cells is independent from androgen receptors and androgen synthesis. RCs represent for the most part, if not exclusively, crystallized forms of a 3BHSD/calretinin complex. Androgen-producing cells containing and lacking RCs differ mainly in the level of expression of these proteins and androgen receptors.
Intercultural Conflict in Groups

This article provides a critical review of interdisciplinary literature on intercultural conflict management. The authors provide theoretical frameworks and evidence-based strategies to help group counselors more effectively identify and address potential sources of overt and covert intercultural conflict in groups. Using practical examples and integrated case studies, we examine the dynamics of intercultural conflict in groups, effective and ineffective group leader interventions, and implications for research and the practice of group work.
Hematopoietic Origin of Fibroblasts and Their Precursors.

Recent studies indicate that hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are capable of reconstituting a number of non-hematopoietic organs and tissues. To define the potential of the HSC precisely, we initiated transplantation studies of a clonal population of cells derived from a single HSC. We used the bone marrow (BM) of transgenic enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) mice as the source of donor HSCs. We demonstrated the HSC origin of glomerular mesangial cells (Masuya et al, Blood 101: 2215, 2003) and brain microglial cells and pericyte-like perivascular cells (Hess et al, Exp Neurol 186: 134, 2004). These observations and the fact that glomerular mesangial cells and pericytes are considered myofibroblasts suggested that fibroblasts are also derived from HSCs. In this abstract, we present evidence for HSC origin of fibroblasts and their precursors, BM fibroblast colony-forming units (CFU-F) and peripheral blood (PB) fibrocytes. Lin − Sca-1 + c-Kit + CD34 − cells from the BM of adult EGFP mice were individually sorted into 96 well Corning plates and cultured for 7 days in the presence of Steel factor and IL-11 or Steel factor and G-CSF. Viable clones consisting of fewer than 20 cells were individually transplanted into lethally irradiated mice. EGFP + mononuclear cells were sorted from the BM cells of recipients showing high-level, multilineage hematopoietic reconstitution and assayed for CFU-F in Retronectin-treated tissue culture plates. Colonies consisting of more than 50 adherent cells were all EGFP + . The majority of the cells comprising the colonies were fibroblast-like, exhibited spindle-shaped or polygonal cytoplasm and had clear, ovoid nuclei. Flow cytometric analyses revealed that these cells expressed collagen-1 and discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) and exhibited a decreased intensity of CD45. RT-PCR analysis of these cells revealed the presence of mRNA for procollagen 1 alpha-1, vimentin, fibronectin and DDR2. Next we analyzed the PB for donor origin fibrocytes, a fibroblast-like cell type that expresses both fibroblastic and hematopoietic phenotypes in culture. When nucleated PB cells from clonally engrafted mice were cultured on fibronectin-coated dishes, proliferation of EGFP + fibroblast-like cells was detected. Only one-third of the EGFP + cells expressed CD45 and most of the EGFP + cells expressed both collagen-I and DDR2. Similar results were obtained with EGFP + cells from mice transplanted with 100 uncultured Lin − Sca-1 + c-Kit + CD34 − cells or 1x10 6 BM nucleated cells. These studies excluded the effects of short-term culture on HSC differentiation and established the HSC origin of CFU-F and fibrocytes. Classic studies of CFU-F by Friedenstein and others have led to the general belief that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), rather than HSCs, generate a number of tissues including adipocytes, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, myocytes and vascular endothelial cells. Here we unequivocally demonstrated that CFU-F are of HSC origin, warranting a re-evaluation of the relationship between HSCs and MSCs.
Patient-centered mobility outcome preferences according to individuals with stroke and caregivers: a qualitative analysis

AbstractPurpose: To explore the mobility-related preferences among stroke survivors and caregivers following post-acute rehabilitation at inpatient or skilled nursing facilities.Methods: In this cross-sectional study; semi-structured, qualitative interviews of stroke survivors (n = 24) and informal caregivers (n = 15) were conducted. The participants were recruited from the community.Results: Comparative content analysis was used to identify themes by two independent coders. The survivors (68 years) and caregivers (58 years) mentioned mobility-related consequences including inability to walk, balance, drive, and transfer; and increased falls. The survivors (63%) and caregivers (73%) also mentioned the use of assistive devices. The common rehabilitation activities included: walking (62%); followed by standing and mobility; strength and balance; and wheelchair skills. Some stroke survivors were dissatisfied as their rehabilitation was not patient-centered. Frequently mentioned outcome preferences by survivo...
Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy Current Practice Review.

Background Hypertensive disorders (preeclampsia, eclampsia, gestational hypertension, and chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia) complicate 3-5% of all pregnancies and are a significant cause of maternal mortality and morbidity. Preeclampsia is a multi-system disorder characterised by new onset hypertension after the 20th week of pregnancy with proteinuria. Proteinuria is defined as 300 mg or more of protein in a 24-hour urine collection or a protein: creatinine ratio of 0.3 mg/dL using a spot urine specimen. Hypertensive disorders have a complex pathophysiology that results from abnormal placen- tation and a maternal response that develops into a clinicalsyndrome for which there is no single test or "cure". In high income countries, low rates of maternal mortality from hy- pertensive disease in pregnancy illustrate the importance of pregnant women being able to readily access antenatal care. Conclusion There remains the need to develop evidence-based clinical guidelines for detection, prophylaxis and management worldwide.
The Effects of Food Composition on Foodborne Illness Infectious Dose and Host Susceptibility

The ability to cause disease in humans is chiefly determined genetically, through the presence of virulence-associated genes, but is also influenced by the effectiveness of the host defenses to destroy the pathogen before the infection process begins. The ability of pathogens to evade the body’s first line of defense, gastric acid, is affected by the food composition and the gastric emptying rate associated with the components. Surviving pathogens may be better able to resist digestive chemical and competitive microbiota of the small intestine based on prior exposure to stressors within the food product, including sub-lethal exposures to organic acids, preservatives and thermal processing. This chapter addresses the factors that influence the infectious dose of the bacterial pathogens and describes resistance associated with food components both in vitro and in vivo.
Gene Therapy Using a miniCEP290 Fragment Delays Photoreceptor Degeneration in a Mouse Model of Leber Congenital Amaurosis

Mutations in the cilia-centrosomal protein CEP290 are frequently observed in autosomal recessive childhood blindness disorder Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). No treatment or cure currently exists for this disorder. The Cep290rd16 (retinal degeneration 16) mouse (a model of LCA) carries a mutation in the Cep290 gene. This mutation leads to shorter cilia formation and defective photoreceptor structure and function. A roadblock to developing a gene replacement strategy for CEP290 using conventional adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors is its large size. The identification and characterization is reported of a miniCEP290 gene that is amenable to AAV2/8-mediated delivery and delaying retinal degeneration in the Cep290rd16 mice. Using the ability of Cep290rd16 mouse embryonic fibroblasts to from shorter cilia as a platform, a human CEP290 domain encoded by amino acids 580–1180 (miniCEP290580-1180) was identified that can recover the cilia length in vitro. Furthermore, subretinal injection of AAV particles car...
Agriculture or Industry: Rice or Garments: Ex-post and Ex- Ante Analysis of Pakistan’s falling Competitiveness in Its Main Export Items

Abstract. The paper undertakes an evolutionary analysis of Pakistan’s national competitiveness with special reference to exports from 1950-2010. The analysis suggests that post 1980s trade liberalization, some visible improvements can be seen in production efficiencies in Pakistan but they were not translated into improved agriculture or industry competitiveness. The major export items like garments and rice have seen a steady decline in value over the years.. Keywords. Agriculture, Industry, International trade. JEL. N50, O13, Q10, Q17.
A unified jet model of X-ray flashes and γ-ray bursts

Abstract HETE-2 has provided strong evidence that the properties of X-ray flashes (XRFs) and GRBs form a continuum, and therefore that these two types of bursts are the same phenomenon. We show that both the structured jet and the uniform jet models can explain the observed properties of GRBs reasonably well. However, if one tries to account for the properties of both XRFs and GRBs in a unified picture, the uniform jet model works reasonably well while the structured jet model does not. The uniform jet model of XRFs and GRBs implies that most GRBs have very small jet opening angles (∼half a degree). This suggests that magnetic fields play a crucial role in GRB jets. The model also implies that the energy radiated in γ rays is ∼100 times smaller than has been thought. Most importantly, the model implies that there are ∼104–105 more bursts with very small jet opening angles for every such burst we see. Thus the rate of GRBs could be comparable to the rate of Type Ic core collapse supernovae. Determination of the spectral parameters and redshifts of many more XRFs will be required in order to confirm or rule out the uniform jet model and its implications. HETE-2 is ideally suited to do this (it has localized 16 XRFs in ∼2 years), whereas Swift is less so. The unique insights into the structure of GRBs jets, the rate of GRBs, and the nature of Type Ic supernovae that XRFs may provide therefore constitute a compelling scientific case for continuing HETE-2 during the Swift mission.
Cellular immunity in chronic ophthalmic disorders. 4. Leukocyte migration inhibition in diseases associated with glaucoma.

Aspects of cellular immunity in several chronic ophthalmic disorders have been in­ vestigated and reported." Glaucoma is a frequent symptom of chronic eye disease which may or may not be associated with an ocular inflammatory process. The cell-medi­ ated immune status of these patients based on the leukocyte migration test is the subject of this study.· Macrophage migration inhibition was found due to migration inhibition factor(s) (MIF) released by lymphocytes in the origi­ nal experiments in guinea pigs.· It has since been demonstrable in a patient's white cells incubated with an antigen to which he exhibits delayed hypersensitivity (e.g., the tuberculin skin test).'· It is still uncertain whether the MIF released by guinea pig and human leukocytes is similar.· Nevertheless, leukocyte migration inhibition (LMI) cor­ relates with cellular immunity and was cho­ sen to evaluate sensitivity to ocular antigens in patients with increased intraocular pres­ sure.
Patient-Reported Outcomes in Foot and Ankle Surgery

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are a measure of health care quality that empower patients to share their health care perceptions with their providers. In orthopedic foot and ankle surgery, these measures can range from global assessments of pain or satisfaction to complex questionnaires designed to assess the function of specific anatomic regions or the recovery from specific procedures. This article seeks to characterize the use of PROs in foot and ankle surgery, describe some of the most commonly used measures, discuss implementation in everyday clinical practice, and explore the future of PROs in foot and ankle orthopedics.
Cross-Layer Thermal Reliability Management in Silicon Photonic Networks-on-Chip

Silicon photonics technology is being considered for future net-works-on-chip (NoCs) as it can enable high bandwidth density and lower latency with traversal of data at the speed of light. But the operation of photonic NoCs (PNoCs) is very sensitive to on-chip temperature variations. These variations can create significant relia-bility issues for PNoCs. This paper presents a run-time cross-layer framework to overcome temperature variation-induced reliability issues in PNoCs. The framework consists of a device-level reactive mechanism and a system-level proactive technique to avoid on-chip thermal threshold violations and mitigate thermal reliability issues. Our analysis indicates that this framework can reliably satisfy on-chip thermal thresholds and maintain high network bandwidth while reducing power dissipation over state-of-the-art solutions.
A Developing Country'S Information And Communication Technology Infrastructure In Perspective: A Vision For The 21st Century

A global infrastructure is emerging in the 21ST century in which information and communication technologies (ICTs) are becoming more and more pervasive. Dynamic innovation processes continue to give rise to the social and technological capabilities that could release the potential of ICT for development. Products produced in this diverse field have a wide application in society. It is a field that developing countries need to harness and develop considerable technical competence. Governments, businesses and other stakeholders in developing countries need to coordinate their actions in order to amplify the social and economic benefits of ICTs and to reduce the risk of exclusion. This paper presents a perspective of the ICT infrastructure in Zimbabwe. The increasing spread of ICT opens new opportunities for Zimbabwe to harness these technologies and services to serve its development goals. By investing in its national information infrastructures, Zimbabwe can experience the predicted social and economic benefits of a global information infrastructure. The paper gives a detailed coverage of recommendations for the case of Zimbabwe.
The case for praxics.

Since the early 1900s a variety of names has been proposed for the scientific study of behavior, but none has come into general use. “Praxics,” a recent entry, is defensible on several grounds. “Behaviorism,” on the other hand, is the name of a school of philosophy. Though praxics has roots in behaviorism, the term “behaviorism” should not be applied to praxics. Confusion between the science and the philosophy has retarded the growth of the science immeasurably. Its growth has also been impeded by its association with psychology, which is still primarily the study of mind. Efforts are underway to establish praxics as an independent field.
Forensic Investigations into Recurrent Pavement Heave from Underlying Expansive Soil Deposits

Pavement sections constructed over expansive soil deposits often exhibit excessive distresses due to volume changes in the underlying soil strata. Differential movements within these deposits resul...
Benchmarking project performance: a guideline for assessing vulnerability of mechanical and electrical projects to productivity loss

AbstractLoss of productivity is a contentious issue that has a profound impact on modern construction, yet existing literature provides no quantitative, data-driven method to compare the productivi...
A Natural 2D Heterostructure [Pb3.1Sb0.9S4][AuxTe2–x] with Large Transverse Nonsaturating Negative Magnetoresistance and High Electron Mobility

We report the two-dimensional (2D) natural heterostructure [Pb3.1Sb0.9S4][Au xTe2- x] ( x = 0.52-0.36) which shows anomalous, transverse nonsaturating negative magnetoresistance (MR). For x = 0.52, the material has a commensurately modulated structure with alternating [Pb3.1Sb0.9S4] rocksalt layers and atomically thin [Au xTe2- x] sheets, as determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction using a (3 + 1)-dimensional space group; for other x compositions, the modulated structure is absent and the Au and Te atoms are disordered. The transport properties in this system at low temperature (<100 K) are dominated by an unusual 2D hopping mechanism, while at room temperature a high carrier mobility of ∼1352 cm2 V-1 s-1 is obtained ( x = 0.36). The confined electrons within the [Au xTe2- x] layers are also exposed to interlayer coupling with the insulating [Pb3.1Sb0.9S4] layers, and as a result, the properties of the heterostructures emerge not only from the constituent layers but also the interactions between them. Furthermore, the various Au and Te coordination patterns found in the [Au xTe2- x] sheets as a function of x further contribute to a unique electronic structure that leads to the anomalous nonsaturating negative MR with different field dependent behaviors. First-principles calculations indicate that the [Au xTe2- x] sheets are responsible for the unusual electrical transport properties in this 2D system.
Caravans of gold, fragments in time. Art, culture, and exchange across medieval Saharan Africa: edited by Kathleen Bickford Berzock. Princeton and Oxford, Princeton University Press, 2019, 312 pp., $65 (hardback), ISBN 978-0691182681.

When it first arrived in my mailbox, the wide formatting of Caravans of Gold, Fragments in Time, and the full-page, high-resolution images found within its 19 chapters, reminded me of a coffee-tabl...
The Use of a Smartphone Application to Complete Therapeutic Homework in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Gambling Disorder: a Pilot Study of Acceptability and Feasibility

The efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is limited by clients’ failure to complete homework assignments. Widespread growth in smartphone use and application (app) software provides the potential to enhance the homework completion. In this pilot study, we examined the demographics of clients who declined to use an app to complete homework in CBT for gambling disorder. We also systematically collected information on what clients liked and disliked about an app to complete homework and compared their homework completion and treatment attendance with an archival, matched sample of 15 clients who completed homework using hardcopy. Clients who declined to use the app to complete homework were socioeconomically disadvantaged. Almost all clients who rated the app agreed or strongly agreed that they enjoyed using it. Clients who used the app to complete homework attended a similar number of treatment sessions but completed more homework than clients who used hardcopy. For individuals with access to smartphones, these results support the acceptability and feasibility of a smartphone app to complete therapeutic homework in CBT for gambling disorder and allow us to make several recommendations for future randomized controlled trials. These studies should allow clients to customize the frequency of homework reminders and to complete homework over multiple log-ins to the app. However, the implementation of smartphone-based healthcare interventions may not enhance the accessibility of care for individuals from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Cubic Polynomials, Linear Shifts, and Ramanujan Simple Cubics

Summary. We show that every monic polynomial of degree three with complex coefficients and no repeated roots is either a (vertical and horizontal) translation of y=x3 or can be composed with a line...
Does the pathway to transportation walking for older adults run through recreational walking

Abstract Although a number of recent studies have addressed walking by older adults, many have aggregated recreational and transportation walking into overall physical activity, whereas many others have exclusively focused on recreational walking. Fewer studies focused on transportation walking and they rarely examined the possibility that transportation walking and recreational walking may be interrelated, that people who walk more for one purpose may walk more or less for the other purpose. This study hypothesizes that (a) transportation walking is difficult to predict because some walkers may perceive it as a benefit but others may perceive it as a burden, and (b) perhaps because of habituation, physical conditioning, self-motivation, and familiarity with neighborhoods, older adults who walk more for recreation also walk more for transportation. Using data for 725 older adults collected through a recent randomized mail survey, this study first shows that typically-used variables such as self-efficacy, motivation, and physical ability do not have a significant direct effect on transportation walking, but they significantly affect walking for recreation. Using a structural equation model, it subsequently shows that those variables still can have an indirect effect on transportation walking if recreational walking is included as an intermediate predictor. According to the model results, residential self-selection has significant direct and indirect effects on transportation walking; recreational walking, past physical activity experience, job density in the neighborhood, and household income have a significant direct effect; whereas age, the use of self-motivating activity-tracking devices, ability to climb stairs, and self-efficacy have a significant indirect effect.