cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Checking LTL properties of recursive Markov chains

We present algorithms for the qualitative and quantitative model checking of linear temporal logic (LTL) properties for recursive Markov chains (RMCs). Recursive Markov chains are a natural abstract model of procedural probabilistic programs and related systems involving recursion and probability. For the qualitative problem ("given a RMC A and an LTL formula /spl phi/, do the computations of A satisfy /spl phi/ almost surely?) we present an algorithm that runs in polynomial space in A and exponential time in /spl phi/. For several classes of RMCs, including RMCs with one exit (a special case that corresponds to well-studied probabilistic systems, e.g., multi-type branching processes and stochastic context-free grammars) the algorithm runs in polynomial time in A and exponential time in /spl phi/. On the other hand, we also prove that the problem is EXPTIME-hard, and hence it is EXPTlME-complete. For the quantitative problem ("does the probability that a computation of A satisfies /spl phi/ exceed a given threshold p?", or approximate the probability within a desired precision) we present an algorithm that runs in polynomial space in A and exponential space in /spl phi/. For linearly-recursive RMCs, we can compute the exact probability in time polynomial in A and exponential in /spl phi/. These results improve by one exponential, in both the qualitative and quantitative case, the complexity that one would obtain if one first translated the LTL formula to a Buchi automaton and then applied the model checking algorithm for Buchi automata from K. Etessami and M. Yannakakis (2005). Our results combine techniques developed in A. Pnueli and L. D. Zuck. (1993) for analysts of RMCs and in C. Courcoubetis and M. Yannakakis (1995) for LTL model checking of flat Markov Chains, and extend them with new techniques.
Reply to Kim Paffenroth's Comment

a philosophical problem shared by many, and therefore found himself thinking of God as corporeal, not because he had been taught this by Christianity, but because it was the only position he could personally accept.9 It does not appear that anything in Augustine's writings would allow us to speculate that Christianity in the fourth century taught that God is corporeal. Rather, Augustine was unable at this point to conceive of a completely incorporeal, spiritual being and therefore found the corporeal but nonanthropomorphic God of the Manichaeans quite attractive.
The Renewal of Excellence

Excellence in orthopaedic surgery has been a long time in the making. What we currently enjoy reflects over a century of innovation, leadership, and consummate professionalism. Today, our practice faces monumental challenges that have never been more demanding, and our commitment to the preservation and advancement of excellence has never been more pressing. Away from the scientific tone but without romanticizing our proud heritage, this article seeks to revitalize the values that have defined our practice, drawing on the wisdom and experiences of leaders in our field. Collectively, it aims to stimulate our enlightened understanding, to reignite our hopes, and to reaffirm our commitment to the highest standards of excellence.
Event-averaged measurements of single-molecule kinetics

Abstract A modulated N-conformational-channel reactive system is used to model the recent single-molecule enzymatic experiment [Science 282 (1998) 1877]. Kinetic analysis of the model system clearly demonstrates the essential difference between ensemble-averaged bulk measurements associated with the population dynamics of full-reactions and event-averaged single-molecule measurements associated with a sequence of half-reactions. Example calculations of a two-conformational-channel system support the principal findings of the reported experiment. In particular, the observation of the focal time in the single-event distribution function and the echo signal in the two-event distribution function reveals the nature of conformational landscapes.
Unexpected Chemistry from the Reaction of Naphthyl and Acetylene at Combustion-Like Temperatures

The hydrogen abstraction/acetylene addition (HACA) mechanism has long been viewed as a key route to aromatic ring growth of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in combustion systems. However, doubt has been drawn on the ubiquity of the mechanism by recent electronic structure calculations which predict that the HACA mechanism starting from the naphthyl radical preferentially forms acenaphthylene, thereby blocking cyclization to a third six-membered ring. Here, by probing the products formed in the reaction of 1- and 2-naphthyl radicals in excess acetylene under combustion-like conditions with the help of photoionization mass spectrometry, we provide experimental evidence that this reaction produces 1- and 2-ethynylnaphthalenes (C12 H8 ), acenaphthylene (C12 H8 ) and diethynylnaphthalenes (C14 H8 ). Importantly, neither phenanthrene nor anthracene (C14 H10 ) was found, which indicates that the HACA mechanism does not lead to cyclization of the third aromatic ring as expected but rather undergoes ethynyl substitution reactions instead.
Prenatal alcohol exposure affects frontal-striatal BOLD response during inhibitory control.

Background: Prenatal alcohol exposure can lead to widespread cognitive impairment and behavioral dysregulation, including deficits in attention and response inhibition. This study characterized the neural substrates underlying the disinhibited behavioral profile of individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Methods: Children and adolescents (ages 8–18) with (n 5 13) and without (n 5 9) histories of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing a response inhibition (go/no-go) task. Results: Despite similar task performance (mean response latency, performance accuracy, and signal detection), blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) response patterns differed by group. Region-of-interest analyses revealed that during portions of the behavioral task that required response inhibition, alcohol-exposed participants showed greater BOLD response across prefrontal cortical regions (including the left medial and right middle frontal gyri), while they showed less right caudate nucleus activation, compared with control participants. Conclusions: These data provide an account of response inhibition-related brain functioning in youth with FASD. Furthermore, results suggest that the frontal–striatal circuitry thought to mediate inhibitory control is sensitive to alcohol teratogenesis.
Takes from Distant Fields

This article purports to braid together three lines of musings: about the permanent failures and transient successes that occur when an anthropologist, accustomed to the pace of ordinary ethnographic research, attempts to do fieldwork fast-forward while collaborating with a documentary video crew; about the transformation of a once-remote community in northeastern Japan into “everybody's home town,” riding on the literary coattails of the godfather of Japanese folklore studies; and P.P.O. (profound philosophical observations) about visual and verbal modes of communication and about the distinction between being and time, and being there in time.
Spawning Odds in Relation to Size of American Lobsters Homarus americanus

In Newfoundland, the American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery has considerable socioeconomic value. Concern about the sustainability of this fishery continues to be a concern as a result of high exploitation rates. Conservation initiatives (marine protected areas, a slot fishery, and v-notching) have been established in several lobster fishing areas (LFAs) in western Newfoundland to increase the number of large lobsters and fecundity (egg production) of populations. However, there has been concern by harvesters in western Newfoundland, where slot fisheries are in effect, that the large lobsters being caught are rarely ovigerous.We used extensive field data from 5 LFAs in western Newfoundland (LFA12, LFA13A, LFA13B, LFA14A, and LFA14B) to test whether the spawning odds depend on size in a slot fishery, where large females were present in sufficient numbers to allow reliable estimates. Three analyses of size-dependent spawning odds were conducted via logistic regression: 2 analyses by year for LFA14A and LFA14B from 2006 to 2011 and 1 spatial analysis for 5 LFAs (LFA12, 13A, 13B, 14A, and 14B) during the same year (2010). In 4 of 6 y, for both LFA14A and LFA14B, spawning odds increased with size, and for 3 of the 5 LFAs for the same year, spawning odds increased with size. We found no evidence of a decrease in spawning odds with size and, equivalently, no decrease in percent ovigerous with increasing size. Our results support the use of spawning odds to calculate the effects of sustainability measures in lobsters.
Microstructural Effects in Wear of Metals

Various metallurgical factors which affect the wear of metals are considered in terms of the delamination theory of wear. In particular, those factors which control the surface traction, the deformation of the subsurface, and the subsequent crack nucleation and propagation process are discussed. The evidence for the existence of a “soft, nonworkhardening” layer due to the dislocation instability at the surface and the presence of a flow-stress gradient is reviewed. The microstructure is shown to have significant effects on the subsurface crack nucleation and propagation process, thus on the wear rate. The role of second phase particles in crack nucleation is the same both in wear and in bulk deformation. However, the effect of the particle morphology in wear differs from that on the fracture behavior under uniaxial and torsional loading conditions. The depth of the subsurface crack, thus the wear-sheet thickness, is a strong function of the frictional coefficient and the applied load. The condition for crack propagation is discussed in terms of the state of stress existing in the subsurface over which an asperity has just moved.
Is a Newscarrier an Employee or an Independent Contractor? Deterring Abuse of the "Independent Contractor" Label via State Tort Claims

1 . Free agents can set their own schedules, work from home, work only part-time, and avoid the less savory aspects of corporate culture, such as office politics, harassment, and hierarchies. Nina Munk, The Price of Freedom, N.Y. TIMES, Mar. 5, 2000, §6 at 52. See also Edward Lenz, "Contingent Work" Dispelling the Myth, 52 Wash. & Lee L. Rev. 755 (1995) (arguing that contingent work serves employee interests in flexibility, getting started in the job market, and providing a bridge between job loss and new employment). Michael Lewis, The Artist in the Gray Flannel Pajamas, N.Y. TIMES, March 5, 2000, §6 at 45; see generally Daniel Pink, Free Agent Nation, FAST COMPANY, Dec. 1997, at 131 . Evidence of the appeal of this "free-agent" trend can be found in recent mass media coverage, such as this March 5, 2000, issue of the New York Times Magazine entirely devoted to the new "free-agent" lifestyle.
β-NaVOPO4 Obtained by a Low-Temperature Synthesis Process: A New 3.3 V Cathode for Sodium-Ion Batteries

Vanadyl phosphates (VOPO4) represent a class of attractive cathodes in lithium-ion batteries. However, the exploration of this type of materials in sodium-ion batteries is rare. Here, we report for the first time the synthesis of orthorhombic β-NaVOPO4 by first chemically extracting lithium from β-LiVOPO4 and then inserting sodium into the obtained β-VOPO4 by a microwave-assisted solvothermal process with NaI, which serves both as a reducing agent and sodium source. Intermediate NaxVOPO4 compositions with x = 0.3, 0.5, and 0.8 have also been obtained by controlling the amount of NaI in the reaction mixture. Joint Rietveld refinement of synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) and neutron diffraction confirms that the fully sodiated β-NaVOPO4 is isostructural with the lithium counterpart β-LiVOPO4. Bond valence sum maps suggest that sodium ions possibly diffuse along the [010] direction in the lattice, similar to the ionic conduction pathway in β-LiVOPO4. Although the initial discharge capacity is low due to th...
Bayesian analysis in educational psychology research: An example of gender differences in achievement goals

Abstract Much research in educational psychology concerns group differences. In this study, we argue that Bayesian estimation is more appropriate for testing group differences than is the traditional null hypothesis significance testing (NHST). We demonstrate the use of Bayesian estimation on gender differences in students' achievement goals. Research findings on gender differences in achievement goals have been mixed. We explain how Bayesian estimation of mean differences is more intuitive, informative, and coherent in comparison with NHST, how it overcomes structural and interpretive problems of NHST, and how it offers a way to achieve cumulative progress toward increasing precision in estimating gender differences in achievement goals. We provide an empirical demonstration by comparing a Bayesian and a traditional NHST analysis of gender differences in achievement goals among 442 7th-grade students (223 girls and 219 boys). Whereas findings from the two analyses indicate comparable results of higher endorsement of mastery goals among girls and higher endorsement of performance-approach and avoidance goals among boys, it is the Bayesian analysis rather than the NHST that is more intuitively interpreted. We conclude by discussing the perceived disadvantages of Bayesian estimation, and some ways in which a consideration of Bayesian probability can aid interpretations of traditional analytical methods.
Blood-Brain Barrier Manipulation: Current Status of Laboratory and Clinical Studies

Chemotherapy has been relatively ineffective in the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) metastases of systemic cancers (i.e., breast cancer, small cell cancer of lung, lymphoma, and germ cell tumors), while clinical regression, even complete remission, of the tumor has occurred at the non-CNS systemic sites. The failure of response of such CNS metastatic tumors led us to focus on the issue of drug delivery to tumor. Besides the classic pharmacologic issues of drug delivery to tumors (i.e., blood flow, drug concentration, time of exposure, etc.), tumors within the CNS can be affected by problems of delivery because of the blood-brain barrier (BBB)1,2. The old concept that malignant tumors in the CNS have no effective barrier, as emphasized, for instance, by enhancement on computerized tomographic (CT) scan, has been shown to be incorrect. Numerous studies report variability in barrier permeability within malignant tumors. Even the well-vascularized, actively proliferating edge of the tumor, the brain adjacent to tumor (BAT), is known to be variable and complex in terms of barrier integrity.
Compressive sensing for nuclear security.

Special nuclear material (SNM) detection has applications in nuclear material control, treaty verification, and national security. The neutron and gamma-ray radiation signature of SNMs can be indirectly observed in scintillator materials, which fluoresce when exposed to this radiation. A photomultiplier tube (PMT) coupled to the scintillator material is often used to convert this weak fluorescence to an electrical output signal. The fluorescence produced by a neutron interaction event differs from that of a gamma-ray interaction event, leading to a slightly different pulse in the PMT output signal. The ability to distinguish between these pulse types, i.e., pulse shape discrimination (PSD), has enabled applications such as neutron spectroscopy, neutron scatter cameras, and dual-mode neutron/gamma-ray imagers. In this research, we explore the use of compressive sensing to guide the development of novel mixed-signal hardware for PMT output signal acquisition. Effectively, we explore smart digitizers that extract sufficient information for PSD while requiring a considerably lower sample rate than conventional digitizers. Given that we determine the feasibility of realizing these designs in custom low-power analog integrated circuits, this research enables the incorporation of SNM detection into wireless sensor networks.
Interaction of Dilute Colloidal Particles in a Mixed Solvent

Colloidal particles in mixed solvents can show reversible aggregation in the one-phase regime of the mixture near the mixture's phase separation temperature [1–5]. This aggregation condition has been shown to be related to the affinity of the colloidal surfaces for one of the solvent components. In particular, for a 2,6 lutidine plus water (LW) mixture with colloidally dispersed polystyrene latex spheres (PLS) in a temperature range near the critical temperature, Tc, in the mixture's two-phase region, the particles will partition into one of the solvent phases, with the meniscus between the liquid phases clear to the eye and showing no sign of population by colloidal particles. Which phase of the solvent attracts the particles depends on the surface charge density of the particles, with high surface charge density particles preferring the water-rich phase and low charge density particles preferring the lutidine rich phase. As temperature is advanced deeper into the two-phase region (all effects discussed here are equilibrium effects), there is a temperature, Tw, at which particles appear on the meniscus (most particles remain in the preferred phase, whose population depletion is too small to measure). Tw changes with the surface charge density of the particles [4], but not with radius or with number density of the particles in the sample. The aggregation observed in the one-phase region [5] is then restricted to the side of the solvent's coexistence curve poor in the component which is rich in the partitioning-favored phase.
Toward Probabilistic Data Collection in the NOTICE Architecture

NOTICE is a secure privacy-aware architecture for the automatic detection of traffic events and for the dissemination of related traffic advisories. NOTICE uses belts of piezoelectric elements embedded in the roadways to detect passing vehicles and to initiate meaningful interaction with them. NOTICE learns about traffic conditions by collecting data from passing vehicles and as a rule, these data are highly correlated. Thus, to detect a traffic-related event, there is no need to aggregate data from all passing vehicles, particularly in dense traffic. The main contribution of this paper is to investigate probabilistic data collection from a passing car with some application-dependent handshake probability $p$. We analyze various parameters of such data collection and reveal their impact on the time it takes NOTICE to detect a traffic-related event. Indeed, observe that $p$ and the flow intensity directly impact the expected time between consecutive cars that interact with a given belt and, consequently, the time it takes to collect sufficient data to ensure a meaningful data aggregation. In turn, this gives us a handle on the expected time it takes NOTICE to detect traffic-related events. There is an obvious tradeoff here: To save energy, a belt may decide to collect and aggregate data from fewer cars. In turn, this increases the time it takes to detect a traffic-related event. Extensive simulations using traces of real traffic and simulated data have confirmed the accuracy of our analytical predictions.
197 LONG-TERM USE OF ORAL SILDENAFIL FOR PEDIATRIC PULMONARY HYPERTENSION APPEARS TO BE SAFE AND EFFICACIOUS

Introduction As a pulmonary vasodilator that specifically targets smooth muscles of the lungs by inhibiting PDE-5, sildenafil (Viagra, Pfizer) has brought much hope for patients with pulmonary hypertension (PHTN) within the last few years. The majority of studies on the therapeutic effects of sildenafil have been conducted on adult subjects. Knowledge of its effects on children still remains quite limited. Hypothesis We hypothesized that administering oral sildenafil to pediatric patients for long-term use is safe and effective for treating pulmonary hypertension. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted on all patients who were diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension and treated with sildenafil at Loma Linda University Children9s Hospital between 8/2001 through 8/2004. To assess the safety of sildenafil, side effects were noted, while its efficacy was determined by noting the change in oxygen requirement and severity of pulmonary hypertension and tricuspid insufficiency as observed by Doppler echocardiogram. Results Of the 22 pediatric patients (mean age 4.9 years; females 50%), three patients had primary PHTN and 19 patients had secondary PHTN. The average duration for sildenafil treatment was 5.0 months with an average dose administration of 1.5 mg/kg/day. Three (13.6%) patients reported adverse effects, which included nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis, and tachypnea. No report of systemic hypotension was noted. The oxygen requirement at the start and end of the treatment decreased in 16 (73%) patients, while an increase in oxygen need was present for 5 (23%) patients. The remaining one (5%) patient had no change in oxygen requirement. As observed by Doppler echocardiography, PHTN improved in 12 (55%) patients, worsened in 1 (5%) and remained unchanged or was unknown for 9 (41%). Tricuspid insufficiency improved in 7 (32%) patients, worsened in 1 (5%) patient and remained unchanged or was unknown for 14 (64%) patients. Conclusion This preliminary retrospective study demonstrates that long-term sildenafil therapy appears to be safe and efficacious for pediatric pulmonary hypertension. However, this pediatric study is under powered to evaluate the potential for irreversible retinal damage linked to PDE-5 inhibition in some adult studies. Additional studies are needed to evaluate for rebound PHTN after withdrawal of sildenafil.
Application of Sparse Techniques in Power System State Estimation

The approaches of applying sparse techniques power system state estimation are researched. Firstly, sparse vector method is discussed by factor matrix and elimination tree; then, based on given sparse matrix data structure and symbolic factorization, an algorithm in which sparse vector method is adopted to decompose LDLT is proposed; finally, combining with residuals variance calculation, two kinds of methods which apply sparse techniques in calculation are given. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified by IEEE 118-bus system and IEEE 300-bus system.
Apolipoprotein E synthesis by cultured human ovarian granulosa cells: regulation by human chorionic gonadotropin and cholesterol.

Objective Apolipoprotein E (Apo E) is a surface component of several classes of plasma lipoproteins and functions as a receptor ligand for the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (B/E) receptor, the hepatic E receptor, and the LDL receptor related protein. In continuing studies of Apo E synthesis by extrahepatic steroidogenic tissue, we have examined Apo E production and its control in cultured human granulosa cells (GC). Design Human GC obtained at the time of oocyte aspiration for in vitro fertilization were cultured, and the following parameters were measured: progesterone secretion into the medium, Apo E synthesis and secretion, and Apo E messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) content of the GC. Results Human chorionic gonadotropin induces a decrease in Apo E protein synthesis and Apo E mRNA content. The addition of aminoglutethimide (which blocks cholesterol conversion to pregnenolone) and/or LDL (which provides the cell with cholesterol), both result in an increase in Apo E protein synthesis and Apo E mRNA content. These latter findings are in agreement with studies in nonsteroidogenic cells, which show that Apo E production is positively correlated with cell cholesterol content. Conclusions These results, which demonstrate gonadotropin and cholesterol control of Apo E production, plus our recent finding that the Apo E content of the human ovarian follicular fluid changes dramatically during follicular development, suggest a role for Apo E in the intraovarian control of the follicle.
Adhesion of platelets to purified solid-phase von Willebrand factor: Effects of wall shear rate, ADP, thrombin and ristocetin

When platelets are stimulated with adenosine diphosphate (ADP), thrombin, or ristocetin, they bind soluble von Willebrand factor (vWF). In contrast, platelets adhere to solid-phase vWF without apparent stimulus. This work characterizes the adhesion of washed human platelets to highly purified solid-phase human vWF. VWF (iodine 125-labeled vWF) was demonstrated to bind in a quantifiable fashion to the internal surfaces of glass capillary tubes, saturating at a surface density of 3.0 mg/ml. The multimeric structure of bound vWF was the same as that of normal vWF. Platelets were washed, labeled with indium 111, and resuspended with washed red blood cells (RBCs) in balanced salt solution containing Ca++, Mg++, and apyrase. The washed platelet RBC suspension was aspirated through capillary tubes to which vWF was adsorbed. Adhesion of platelets to adsorbed vWF was directly dependent on the surface density of vWF. Increasing wall shear rate (100 to 5000 sec-1) produced increasing platelet adhesion to maximum reached at 2500 sec-1. Platelets bound to the solid-phase vWF in an irreversible fashion, and, as demonstrated with scanning electron microscopy, they spread on the surface. When used to stimulate the platelets, ADP, thrombin, and ristocetin all increased the platelet adhesion to solid-phase vWF. ADP- and thrombin-stimulated reactions were inhibited by prior treatment of the platelets with 5'-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyl adenosine. This inhibitor of ADP binding had no effect on the baseline platelet adhesion reaction (without ADP or thrombin). Adenosine in concentration up to 1 mmol/L failed to inhibit adhesion. The data demonstrate that washed platelets adhere to solid-phase vWF without added agonists, that the reaction is dependent on surface density vWF and wall shear rate, that they bind irreversibly, and that they demonstrate surface spreading. In addition, these platelets can be stimulated to increase their adherence to vWF by using ADP, thrombin, and ristocetin.
The Sphere, the Screen, and the Square: “Locating” Occupy in the Public Sphere

In this essay, I argue that considerations of public space are vital to scholars' theorizing of the public sphere. Discursive interactions, media spectacles, and social media use are all integral to social movement success, but an understanding of their interdependence with physical spaces is also essential to the maintenance of democratic participation. 'Locating' Occupy in the public sphere through an exploration of its simultaneous occupation of public squares and public screens reveals the importance of public spaces in maintaining public spheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
COBOL Programmers Swing with Java

Featuring the development of graphical user interfaces (GUI's) using the latest in Java swing components, this new edition of Java for the COBOL Programmer (Cambridge, 1999) provides COBOL programmers a clear, easy transition to Java programming by drawing on the numerous similarities between COBOL and Java. The authors introduce the COBOL programmer to the history of Java and object-oriented programming and then delve into the details of the Java syntax, always contrasting them with their parallels in COBOL. A running case study permits the reader to have an overall view of application development with Java. First Edition ISBN (Pb): 0-521-65892-6
Dengue Fever and Thrombocytopenia: A Deadly Duo.

Abstract Dengue fever (DF) is one of the most ill understood diseases of Asian Pacific countries which is associated with reversible vascular complications. These complications are part of severe manifestations of Dengue Haemorregic Fever (DHF) and Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) which can be prevented with early detection and appropriate interventions. Increased hematocrit, elevated liver enzymes, altered coagulation profile and decreased platelet count are some of the parameters which predicts severity of this disease. Thrombocytopenia is always considered a predictive parameter for the inpatient management of dengue fever as well as recovery parameter in DHF and DSS. We examined 28 reviews and original articles out of 175 listed in “Pub med” on Dengue Fever and thrombocytopenia to find any possible relevance with the pathophysiology of thrombocytopenia and clinical bleeding in dengue across the spectrum of disease. Correlation between platelet counts and development of clinical bleeding was also studied as well as diagnostic markers for early detection. Finally, we summarize recent reports on treatment of thrombocytopenia, including evidence for conservative use of platelet transfusions and briefly complications of platelet transfusions. Thrombocytopenia is the most common laboratory finding in dengue patients, most patients manifesting petechiae, epistaxis, and mild mucosal bleeding. Severe hemorrhage is catastrophic and associated high mortality. Close monitoring of the patient for hemorrhagic manifestations and marked thrombocytopenia is strongly recommended. Other modalities include transfusion therapy with supportive therapy.
Microglial Biology and Physiology

Microglia are resident cells of the brain involved in regulatory processes critical for development, maintenance of the neural environment, injury and repair. They originate from erythromyeloid progenitors (EMPs) in the yolk sac and develop in the forming CNS. Microglia serve as brain immune cells to orchestrate innate immune responses, however, they are distinct from other tissue macrophages due to their unique homeostatic phenotype and tight regulation by the CNS microenvironment. They exhibit multiple morphological phenotypes and functional profiles depending on their environment. Microglia actively survey the surrounding parenchyma and respond rapidly to changes such that any disruption to neural architecture or function can contribute to the loss in regulation of the microglia phenotype. Alterations in microglia functionality are involved in brain aging, as well as in neurodegenerative diseases. In many models of neurodegeneration and neurotoxicity, early events of synaptic degeneration and neuronal loss are accompanied by an inflammatory response including activation of microglia, perivascular monocytes, and recruitment of leukocytes. As the primary source for pro-inflammatory cytokines, microglia are implicated as pivotal mediators of neuroinflammation and can induce or modulate a broad spectrum of cellular responses. One key question in determining the consequence of neuroinflammation is whether the response is an initiating event or the consequence of tissue damage. Microglia execute varied tasks, not typical of those carried out by peripheral macrophages, which support optimal function of neurons and neuronal networks. Recent observations about microglia ontogeny combined with extensive gene expression profiling and emerged novel tools to study microglia biology allow us to characterize the variety of microglial phenotypes during development, homeostasis and disease.
Professor camp: A phenomenological study of the origin and persistence of the Wakonse conference on college teaching and learning

This study examines the Wakonse Conference on Teaching and Learning through an organizational development lens. It explores why the conference was created and why it has continued for 24 years. Using this phenomenological case study provides insight into both the organizational elements involved in this conference, but also how the roles of individuals have contributed to the persistence of this conference. The three founders who have been active with Wakonse from since its inception along with five other participants who have attended the conference for at least four years were interviewed. Through interviews with the conference founders and long-term participants, issues related to leadership, the value of teaching and learning and isolation in academe were explored. This study highlights the importance of place, reflection and community in attending to the holistic need of faculty and staff working in higher education. These interviews served as the primary data source for this study, though other documentation and observation as well as reflexive journaling contributed, as well. This conference emerged from the passions of the founders and was inspired by their connection to a specific location. Their dedication to maintaining a connection with the camp where the conference evolved into an annual conference: Wakonse. This conference serves to bring together faculty and staff in higher education who are passionate about undergraduate students and teaching. These passions have resonated with faculty and staff across the country who have not found communities of teaching and safe spaces for sharing their passions for undergraduate students at their institutions.
Actors, Orators, and the Boundaries of Drama in Elizabethan Universities

This article discusses the debates over drama that took place in the English universities during the late sixteenth century. It reconsiders the career of the Oxford academic and theologian John Rainolds, whose objections to student performance are usually conflated with attacks upon professional drama. This article argues instead that his opposition arose largely from two related institutional concerns: the equation of drama with rhetorical exercises and the increasing use of spectacle in university plays. The controversy over theatrical performance is thus cast in a new light as an inquiry into the place and purpose of drama within university culture.
Activation of voltage-dependent K+ channels strongly limits hypoxia-induced elevation of [Ca2+ ]i in rat carotid body glomus cells.

Key points We studied the role of the large-conductance Ca2+ -activated K+ channel (BK) and voltage-dependent K+ channels (Kv) on [Ca2+ ]i responses to a wide range of hypoxia at different resting cell membrane potential (Em ). BK/Kv were mostly closed at rest in normoxia. BK/Kv became basally active when cells were depolarized by elevated [KCl]o (>12 mm). Regardless of whether BK/Kv were closed or basally open, hypoxia-induced elevation of [Ca2+ ]i was enhanced 2- to 3-fold by inhibitors of BK/Kv. Hypoxia-induced elevation of [Ca2+ ]i was enhanced ∼2-fold by an inhibitor of Kv2, a major Kv in rat glomus cells. Hypoxia did not inhibit BK in inside-out patches. Our study supports a scheme in which activation of BK/Kv strongly limits the magnitude of hypoxia-induced [Ca2+ ]i rise, with Kv having a much greater effect than BK. Abstract Large-conductance KCa (BK) and other voltage-dependent K+ channels (Kv) are highly expressed in carotid body (CB) glomus cells, but their role in hypoxia-induced excitation is still not well defined and remains controversial. We addressed this issue by studying the effects of inhibitors of BK (IBTX) and BK/Kv (TEA/4-AP) on [Ca2+ ]i responses to a wide range of hypoxia at different levels of resting cell membrane potential (Em ). IBTX and TEA/4-AP did not affect the basal [Ca2+ ]i in isolated glomus cells bathed in 5 mm KClo , but elicited transient increases in [Ca2+ ]i in cells that were moderately depolarized (11-20 mV) by elevation of [KCl]o (12-20 mm). Thus, BK and Kv were mostly closed at rest and activated by depolarization. Four different levels of hypoxia (mild, moderate, severe, anoxia) were used to produce a wide range of [Ca2+ ]i elevation (0-700 nm). IBTX did not affect the rise in [Ca2+ ]i , but TEA/4-AP strongly (∼3-fold) enhanced [Ca2+ ]i rise by moderate and severe levels of hypoxia. Guangxitoxin, a Kv2 blocker, inhibited the whole-cell current by ∼50%, and enhanced 2-fold the [Ca2+ ]i rise elicited by moderate and severe levels of hypoxia. Anoxia did not directly affect BK, but activated BK via depolarization. Our findings do not support the view that hypoxia inhibits BK/Kv to initiate or maintain the hypoxic response. Rather, our results show that BK/Kv are activated as glomus cells depolarize in response to hypoxia, which then limits the rise in [Ca2+ ]i . Inhibition of Kv may provide a mechanism to enhance the chemosensory activity of the CB and ventilation.
Road to the American Heart Association 2020 Impact Goals: The Metric for Monitoring Progress

In 2010, the Goals and Metric Committee of the Strategic Planning Task Force of the American Heart Association (AHA) developed the 2020 Impact Goals for the organization.1 The 2020 Impact Goal was to improve the cardiovascular health (CVH) of all Americans by 20% and reduce deaths from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and stroke by 20% by the year 2020.1 The Committee introduced a 7-item semiquantitative metric/concept of CVH and recommended its use for monitoring the changing prevalence of CVH status and defining achievement of the 2020 Impact Goals. See Article by Hwang et al Ideal CVH was defined by the presence of both ideal health behaviors (nonsmoking, body mass index <25 kg/m2, physical activity at goal levels, and pursuit of a diet consistent with current guideline recommendations) and ideal health factors (untreated total cholesterol <200 mg/dL, untreated blood pressure <120/80 mm Hg, and fasting blood glucose <100 mg/dL).1 Several studies have shown associations between this semiquantitative metric of CVH and cardiovascular outcomes or mortality.2–4 However, there are limited data showing that a change in this semiquantitative measure is associated with an appropriate change in cardiovascular outcomes, especially in low-risk populations. Atherosclerosis is the underlying pathophysiology of most clinical cardiovascular outcomes.5 Atherosclerotic plaques can be calcified or noncalcified. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) score is a quantitative measure of calcified atherosclerotic plaque burden and has the strongest association and predictive value for future clinical cardiovascular outcomes and mortality among all measures of subclinical atherosclerosis.6,7 Thus, using CAC as an …
Example Use Cases

This chapter describes three use cases that leverage the functionalities in WIPP. The use cases focus on the following problems: 1. Cell count and single cell detection 2. Stem cell colony growth computation 3. Feature variability analysis
Case report: Cytochrome P450 implications for comorbid ADHD and OCD pharmacotherapy.

TOPIC This case report details the treatment of an early adolescent already receiving treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder who presents with recurrent obsessive-compulsive disorder. Potential atomoxetine (Strattera) and fluoxetine (Prozac) interactions via Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) pathways are examined and alternate therapies are recommended. PURPOSE Provide a discussion of psychopharmacogenomics, especially in the case of combining medications, CYP450 enzymes, and clinical implications in the context of the burgeoning field of precision medicine. The following questions are addressed: 1) What are the recommendations for pharmacogenetics testing? 2) How should pharmacogenetics inform medication selection? 3) What impact should CYP450 knowledge have on medication dosing? SOURCES Peer-reviewed journals, U.S. Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Medical Library, and the Clinical Pharmacology database. CONCLUSIONS Genetic testing as a prescriptive tool is not indicated for all medications; however, potential drug-drug interactions, narrow therapeutic drug index, and side effect toxicity contribute to the need for testing. An understanding of CYP450 metabolism and drug interaction as well as metabolism phenotypes should inform prescribing and dosing psychotropic medications.
Prediction and Experimental Validation of Power Consumption of Skid-Steer Mobile Robots in Manufacturing Environments

Skid-Steer Mobile Robots (SSMRs) provide a robust and simple mechanical drive platform making them useful in many applications. Power consumption is an important consideration in the design of any mobile robot and particularly important for SSMRs because of the slipping and corresponding friction that induce large loads on the drive system. The slipping behavior is generally characterized through Instantaneous Centers of Rotation (ICR) of the contact patches and it has been established that these are functions of the system dynamics. However, the existing SSMR power models generally treat these constraints at the kinematic level by assuming constant slip rates taken from empirical data. This paper demonstrates a method to evaluate SSMR power consumption based on slip parameters that are calculated as differential equations extracted from the equations of motion. The dynamic power model is validated and then implemented on two practical manufacturing applications in which a mobile robot is climbing on steel surfaces with primary power consumption due to turning and overcoming gravity. The applications show that the dynamic ICR model plays a significant role in estimating power requirements. The results further demonstrate that the power and energy requirements for a given task depend on the payload and motion along the task in a non-linear fashion, for example showing that the minimum payload does not necessarily correspond to the minimum energy use. This outcome suggests that dynamic effects can be used to find optimal trajectories to minimize power or energy requirements.
Enforcing fair grid energy access for controllable distributed solar capacity

The rapid expansion of intermittent grid-tied solar capacity is making the job of balancing electricity's real-time supply and demand increasingly challenging. To address the problem, recent work proposes mechanisms for actively controlling solar power output to the grid by enabling software to cap it as a fraction of its time-varying maximum output. Utilities can use these mechanisms to dynamically share the grid's solar capacity by controlling the solar output at each site. However, while enforcing an equal fraction of each solar site's time-varying maximum output results in "fair" short-term contributions of solar power, it does not result in "fair" long-term contributions of solar energy. This discrepancy arises from fundamental differences in enforcing "fair" access to the grid to contribute solar energy, compared to analogous fair-sharing in networks and processors. In this paper, we present a centralized and distributed algorithm to enable control of distributed solar capacity that enforces fair grid energy access. We implement our algorithm and evaluate it on synthetic data and real data across 18 solar sites. We show that traditional rate allocation, which enforces equal rates, results in solar sites contributing up to 18.9% less energy than an algorithm that enforces fair grid energy access over a single month.
The Third Globalization of Catholicism in Greater China

The fundamental aspects of Catholic theology and ecclesiastical structure may be the same throughout “Greater China,” but the forms of life engendered by the church have differed dramatically in different sociopolitical contexts. For illustration, we compare the development of Catholicism in the “Third Globalization of Catholicism” in the second half of the twentieth century in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. All of the areas of the Chinese world discussed here share the same basic Chinese traditional culture, but differences in their political, social and economic circumstances lead the same Catholic theology to be heard, practiced, and institutionalized in different ways. Global Catholicism is localized differently in the different localities of the Chinese world.
Cytotoxic Lymphocytes in Human Intestinal Mucosa

Although cytotoxic lymphocytes have been well studied and characterized in the peripheral blood, the nature and function of these effector cells in human gut mucosa is still unclear. Previous studies have suggested that human intestinal lamina propria lymphocytes (LPL) exhibit mitogen induced cellular cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) but that freshly isolated mucosal cells do not exhibit NK activity or exhibit it at very low levels (1–7). This is surprising since the intestinal mucosa is frequently affected by neoplastic, infectious and inflammatory diseases and is in apparent contrast with studies of the mucosal immune system in rodents where spontaneously cytotoxic cells are well represented (8,9). However, when isolated human colonic cells are cultured in the presence of interleukin-2 (IL-2) significant lytic activity is observed (lymphokine activated killers [LAK]) (10, 11).
THE IMPORTANCE OF EXERCISE IN PULMONARY REHABILITATION

Exercise has been shown to be an important component of pulmonary rehabilitation and may be associated with both physiologic and psychological benefits for patients with chronic lung disease. In evaluating patients for pulmonary rehabilitation, exercise testing can be useful in measuring exercise tolerance, assessing causes of exercise limitation, developing a prescription for training, evaluating often unexpected changes in arterial blood gases, and screening for exercise-induced bronchospasm. A variety of testing procedures and measurements are available in pulmonary laboratories. The appropriate test depends on several variables, including patient and program goals, questions identified in the initial patient evaluation, the specific exercise training program, available laboratory expertise, and cost.
A hybridized discontinuous Galerkin method for a linear degenerate elliptic equation arising from two-phase mixtures

Abstract We develop a high-order hybridized discontinuous Galerkin (HDG) method for a linear degenerate elliptic equation arising from a two-phase mixture of mantle convection or glacier dynamics. We show that the proposed HDG method is well-posed by using an energy approach. We derive a priori error estimates for the method on simplicial meshes in both two- and three-dimensions. The error analysis shows that the convergence rates are optimal for both the scaled pressure and the scaled velocity for non-degenerate problems and are sub-optimal by half order for degenerate ones. Several numerical results are presented to confirm the theoretical estimates. We also enhance the HDG solutions by post-processing. The superconvergence rates of ( k + 2 ) and ( k + 3 2 ) are observed for both a non-degenerate case and a degenerate case away from the degeneracy. Degenerate problems with low regularity solutions are also studied, and numerical results show that high-order methods are beneficial in terms of accuracy.
Outcomes of relapsed human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated with curative intent

Background With most centers reporting excellent disease control following transoral surgery for human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal cancer, data are still lacking regarding management and outcomes in patients who relapse. We describe the treatment outcomes after curative intent therapy for locoregional and distant relapse following transoral surgery for HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Methods A single institution retrospective study in which patients were identified with curatively treated loco-regional or single site distant relapse of HPV-related OPSCC treated initially with transoral surgery (TOS) between 1996 and 2014. Results Among 279 patients, 38 (13.6%) relapsed. 21 (7.5%) had local-regional relapse and 18 were treated with curative intent. Three-year overall survival for loco-regional recurrence with curatively intended treatment was 75.3% (95% confidence intervals 54.3-96.0) with a median follow-up 33 (range: 5-65) months. Among 4 patients with isolated distant metastasis who were treated with curative intent, all subsequently developed second relapse of disease. Conclusion Salvage curative treatment of isolated local-regional relapse after TOS is associated with favorable prognosis and should be offered in appropriate candidates.