cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scattering from moderately rough interfaces between two arbitrary media

The generalized Harvey-Shack (GHS) surface scatter theory has been shown to accurately predict the BRDF produced by moderately rough mirror surfaces from surface metrology data. The predicted BRDF also holds for both large incident and scattering angles. Furthermore, it provides good agreement with the classical Rayleigh-Rice theory for those surfaces that satisfy the smooth-surface criterion. The two-dimensional band-limited portion of the surface PSD contributing to scattered radiation is discussed and illustrated for arbitrary incident angles, and the corresponding relevant roughness necessary to calculate the total integrated scatter (TIS) is determined. It is shown that BRDF data measured with a large incident angle can be used to expand the range of surface roughness for which the inverse scattering problem can be solved; i.e., for which the surface PSD can be calculated from measured BRDF data. This PSD and the GHS surface scatter theory can then be used to calculate the BRDF of that surface for arbitrary incident angles and wavelengths that do not satisfy the smooth-surface criterion. Finally, the surface transfer function characterizing both the BTDF and the BRDF of a moderately rough interface separating two media of arbitrary refractive index is derived in preparation for modeling the scattering of structured thin film solar cells.
Experimental Study of Friction in a Pneumatic Actuator at Constant Velocity

This paper describes an experimental method of determining sliding friction forces in a pneumatic actuator. Several empirical and semi-empirical friction models are evaluated using measured friction force data. A repeatability study is also performed to qualitatively assess friction randomness and a change in friction regimes.
Rankings of Research-Active Departments

One might expect that the well-publicized, extremely competitive nature of the job market for tenure-track faculty positions recently would have an interesting side effect: with an oversupply of qualified applicants for all open positions, the relative quality of faculty across different
New county records of the Mediterranean house gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) in northeastern Texas, with comments on range expansion

The Mediterranean house gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) was first observed in the United States in Key West, Florida as early as 1915 (Stejneger, 1922). At least two other independent introductions of H. turcicus are believed to have occurred, one in New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 1940’s (Etheridge, 1952), and the other near the border of Mexico in Brownsville, Texas, in the early 1950’s (Conant, 1955). They have since been found in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, South Carolina, Utah, and Virginia (Hare, 2006; NatureServe, 2006; Reed et al., 2006). In the southern states, only North Carolina and Tennessee have no records. H. turcicus is nocturnal and in its introduced range associated with urban and suburban habitats, feeds on insects attracted to outdoor lights (Davis, 1974). Its success as a colonizer has been attributed to quick maturation, limited interspecific competition, low predation pressure, and multiple clutches per reproductive season (Selcer, 1986). In Texas, Davis (1974) showed that H. turcicus had expanded its range north, using highways as corridors to human domiciles, but remaining below a line from Del Rio through San Antonio to Austin and Houston. With few barriers and increasing transportation of this species to new localities, H. turcicus is becoming common throughout urban areas of the southern United States (Meshaka et al., 2006). In Texas it is currently documented in more than 70 counties (Dixon, 2000). Although no studies have documented negative impacts on native species, its expanding distribution and abundance should be documented. Currently, 28
The MacArthur Maze Fire and Roadway Collapse: A “Worst Case Scenario” for Spent Nuclear Fuel Transportation?

In 2007, a severe transportation accident occurred near Oakland, California, at the interchange known as the "MacArthur Maze." The accident involved a double tanker truck of gasoline overturning and bursting into flames. The subsequent fire reduced the strength of the supporting steel structure of an overhead interstate roadway causing the collapse of portions of that overpass onto the lower roadway in less than 20 minutes. The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has analyzed what might have happened had a spent nuclear fuel transportation package been involved in this accident, to determine if there are any potential regulatory implications of this accident to the safe transport of spent nuclear fuel in the United States. This paper provides a summary of this effort, presents preliminary results and conclusions, and discusses future work related to the NRC's analysis of the consequences of this type of severe accident.
Lead and childhood propensity to infectious and allergic disorders: Is there an association?

Lead appears to impair both antibody and cellular responses of laboratory animals to a variety of bacteria. These immunosuppressive effects of lead appear at levels below those associated with overt toxicity, and might, therefore, be present among urban children exposed to subtoxic amounts of lead. To examine the role of lead exposure on rates of infectious and allergic diseases in children, the authors compared the prevalence of these illnesses in children classified by the lead level in the umbilical cord blood, and in the dentine of their deciduous teeth. Information about illness was obtained from a mailed questionnaire completed by parents.
Crystal structure of Yersinia protein tyrosine phosphatase at 2.5 Å and the complex with tungstate

PROTEIN tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) and kinases coregulate the critical levels of phosphorylation necessary for intracellular signalling, cell growth and differentiation1,2. Yersinia, the causative bacteria of the bubonic plague and other enteric diseases, secrete an active PTPase3, Yop51, that enters and suppresses host immune cells4,5. Though the catalytic domain is only ∼20% identical to human PTP1B6, the Yersinia PTPase contains all of the invariant residues present in eukaryotic PTPases7, including the nucleophilic Cys 403 which forms a phosphocysteine intermediate during catalysis3,8–10. We present here structures of the unliganded (2.5 A resolution) and tungstate-bound (2.6 A) crystal forms which reveal that Cys 403 is positioned at the centre of a distinctive phosphate-binding loop. This loop is at the hub of several hydrogen-bond arrays that not only stabilize a bound oxyanion, but may activate Cys 403 as a reactive thiolate. Binding of tungstate triggers a conformational change that traps the oxyanion and swings Asp 356, an important catalytic residue7, by ∼6 A into the active site. The same anion-binding loop in PTPases is also found in the enzyme rhodanese11.
Nicotine Metabolite Ratio Is Associated With Lozenge Use But Not Quitting in Smokeless Tobacco Users

Author(s): Ebbert, Jon O; Severson, Herbert H; Danaher, Brian G; Benowitz, Neal L; Schroeder, Darrell R | Abstract: IntroductionThe nicotine metabolite ratio (NMR) of 3'-hydroxycotinine to cotinine is a noninvasive marker of the rate of nicotine metabolism. Fast metabolism (ie, a high NMR) is associated with lower cigarette smoking abstinence rates using transdermal nicotine replacement. We evaluated whether the NMR can be used to predict self-reported nicotine lozenge use and tobacco abstinence among smokeless tobacco users treated for tobacco dependence.MethodsThis was a secondary analysis of data from one arm of a large trial. Participants received quitting support materials and 4-mg nicotine lozenges by mail plus three coaching phone calls. Saliva kits were mailed for collection of saliva samples, which were analyzed for cotinine and 3'-hydroxycotinine. Self-reported tobacco and lozenge use were assessed at 3 months. Analyses were performed using Spearman rank correlation and logistic regression.ResultsOf the 160 saliva collection kits mailed, 152 were returned. The NMR was not significantly correlated with the baseline amount of smokeless tobacco used, the number of years of tobacco use, or the level of tobacco dependence as measured by the Severson Smokeless Tobacco Dependency Scale. The NMR was positively correlated with lozenge use (r = 0.21, P = .015), but it did not predict self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence at 3 months.ConclusionsFast metabolizers may need to self-administer more nicotine replacement in the form of nicotine lozenges to achieve the same clinical response achieved by slower metabolizers using fewer lozenges.
Early Stages of Nodular Transformation of the B6C3F1 Mouse liver Induced by Choline Deficiency

The B6C3F1 strain of mice is prone to develop liver nodules as animals grow older. This spontaneous tumor development is enhanced by dietary lipotrope deficiency. The present studies were performed to evaluate the liver of the B6C3F1 mice in early periods of lipotrope deficiency and before the nodules appear. Mice were fed high levels of dietary fat (cotton seed oil or beef fat) without choline or vitamin B12. The livers of these mice were compared with those of mice subjected to partial hepatectomy or dietary phenobarbital both of which enhance liver nodule formation. The ability of putative preneoplastic hepatocytes to exclude parenteral-administered iron was used to detect this eventual phenotype. A lipotrope-deficient condition was established which typically exhibited fatty liver and increased cell proliferation, the latter measured by autoradiography. In the time periods evaluated the lipotrope-devoid diets were not sufficient to induce nodular or putative preneoplastic lesions. An excessively high activity of p-nitroanisole-O-demethylase and a single small fatty nodule were obtained when phenobarbital was added to the lipotrope-deficient diet. Scattered eosinophilic hepatocytes were seen in every experimental group when the histologic slides were stained for iron pigments, but their biologic significance in the present experiments could not be established. Under the conditions of this study, the liver of the B6C3F1 strain of mouse exhibited only minor indications of future tumor development.
Phase-type distributions and the structure of finite Markov chains

Abstract Maier, R.S., Phase-type distributions and the structure of finite Markov chains, Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics 46 (1993) 449–453. We show that all discrete phase-type distributions arise as first passage times (i.e., absorption times) in finite-state Markov chains with a certain recursive internal structure. This arises from the special properties of an automata-theoretic algorithm which can be used to solve the inverse problem for phase-type distributions: the construction of a Markov chain with specified absorption time distribution.
Putative role of protein kinase C in neurotoxic inflammation mediated by extracellular heat shock protein 70 after ischemia-reperfusion.

Background Sterile inflammation occurs in the absence of live pathogens and is an unavoidable consequence of ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in the central nervous system (CNS). It is known that toll-like receptor 4 (Tlr4) contributes to damage and sterile inflammation in the CNS mediated by IR. However, the mechanism of Tlr4 activation under sterile conditions in ischemic tissue is poorly understood. We performed this study to clarify the mechanism. To this end, we focused on the extracellular heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), the prototypic Tlr4 ligand.
Self-referenced processing, neurodevelopment and joint attention in autism:

This article describes a parallel and distributed processing model (PDPM) of joint attention, self-referenced processing and autism. According to this model, autism involves early impairments in the capacity for rapid, integrated processing of self-referenced (proprioceptive and interoceptive) and other-referenced (exteroceptive) information. Measures of joint attention have proven useful in research on autism because they are sensitive to the early development of the 'parallel' and integrated processing of self- and other-referenced stimuli. Moreover, joint attention behaviors are a consequence, but also an organizer of the functional development of a distal distributed cortical system involving anterior networks including the prefrontal and insula cortices, as well as posterior neural networks including the temporal and parietal cortices. Measures of joint attention provide early behavioral indicators of atypical development in this parallel and distributed processing system in autism. In addition it is proposed that an early, chronic disturbance in the capacity for integrating self- and other-referenced information may have cascading effects on the development of self awareness in autism. The assumptions, empirical support and future research implications of this model are discussed.
A case study in explanatory power: John Snow's conclusions about the pathology and transmission of cholera.

In the mid-1800s, there was much debate about the origin or ‘exciting cause’ of cholera. Despite much confusion surrounding the disease, the so-called miasma theory emerged as the prevalent account about cholera’s cause. Going against this mainstream view, the British physician John Snow inferred several things about cholera’s origin and pathology that no one else inferred. Without observing the vibrio cholerae, however,—data unavailable to Snow and his colleagues—, there was no way of settling the question of what exactly was causing cholera and how, or if, it was passed on. The question then arises as to how Snow arrived at conclusions so systematically different from those of his opponents. In this paper, I want to look at Snow’s reasoning in some detail, and show that there were certain principles, explanatory power in particular, that were epistemologically important to Snow in their own right. I will show that Snow himself takes explanatory power to be an epistemic property, and makes explicit links between explanatory power and confirmation. Systematically juxtaposing Snow’s claims and his opponents’, I will show that Snow was right to tout the explanatory power of his theory, and that his conclusions about the epistemic superiority of his theory over that of the miasmatists’ were justified.
Post-transcriptional Stabilization by Interleukin-1β of Interleukin-6 mRNA Induced by c-kit Ligand and Interleukin-10 in Mouse Bone Marrow-derived Mast Cells

We demostrate that a specific combination of cytokines elicits high levels of interleukin (IL)-6 gene expression in mast cells and define the cellular mechanisms of the exogenous cytokine action. The addition of c-kit ligand (KL) and IL-10 to IL-3-derived mouse bone marrow mast cells (BMMC) elicited an ~2-fold increase in steady-state IL-6 mRNA levels that peaked after 0.5 h and was followed by the release of ~0.2 ng of IL-6/106 cells by 5-7 h. The addition of IL-1β to KL + IL-10 elicited a prolonged ~12-fold increase in the level of IL-6 mRNA by 3-5 h and an ~50-fold increase in the level of IL-6 protein released by 7 h. As determined by nuclear run-on analysis, KL + IL-10 stimulated IL-6 gene transcription within 0.5 h, and the addition of IL-1β did not increase transcription. Instead, IL-1β slowed by ~8-fold the decay of IL-6 mRNA as compared to its decay in BMMC stimulated with KL + IL-10 alone. The exposure of BMMC to cycloheximide 0.5 h before the addition of the three exogenous cytokines inhibited by ~50% the level of IL-6 mRNA generated but did not inhibit the effects of KL + IL-10, indicating that IL-1β induces the synthesis of a protein that stabilizes IL-6 mRNA. The stabilization of IL-6 mRNA was inhibited by the addition of actinomycin D at 0.5 but not 3 h after BMMC were stimulated with IL-1β in combination with KL + IL-10, suggesting that once transcribed, the stabilizing protein is long-lived. The addition of cycloheximide to BMMC after stimulation with KL + IL-10 with or without IL-1β increased the levels of steady-state IL-6 mRNA compared to levels in cells without drug, indicating that in addition to stimulating IL-6 transcription, KL + IL-10 induces a protein factor that destabilizes IL-6 mRNA. Thus, there exists a novel Fcϵ receptor type I-independent mechanism by which a mast cell can provide substantial amounts of IL-6 protein in response to the synergistic action of KL and IL-10 to induce IL-6 gene transcription, and IL-1β to stabilize otherwise short-lived IL-6 transcripts.
Carbohydrate and lectin interactions with Edwardsiella ictaluri and channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), anterior kidney leucocytes and hepatocytes

. Seven isolates of Edwardsiella ictaluri were evaluated for channel catfish red blood cell and neutrophil agglutination properties and reactivity with lectins and carbohydrates. All isolates were agglutinated by lectin derived from Ricinus communis and the intensity of the agglutination reaction could be lessened or abrogated by premixing the lectin derived from Ricinus communis with β-D-galactose or α-L-fructose. Edwardsiella ictaluri isolates also sedimented much more rapidly when mixed with lectin derived from Ricinus communis than when mixed with other lectins. Premixing Ricinus communis with β-D-galactose had the greatest effect on slowing the rate of sedimentation. Two out of the seven E. ictaluri isolates were capable of agglutinating channel catfish red blood cells and anterior kidney neutrophils, and this agglutination could be prevented by the addition of β-D-mannose. Likewise, the per cent phagocytosis of E. ictaluri isolate 1389 (the most intense neutrophil agglutinator) could be dramatically reduced by the inclusion of mannose in the assay mixture. Anterior kidney leucocytes and hepatocytes primarily reacted with lectins derived from Canavalia ensiformis, Ricinus communis and Triticum vulgaris. The presence on channel catfish cells of carbohydrate-lectin receptors similar in function to those found on mammalian cells and the reaction of E. ictaluri with specific lectins suggest that bacterial clearance and lectinophagocyotosis may occur in a similar manner in catfish to that in mammals.
An Exploration of Learners' Conceptions of Language, Culture, and Learning in Advanced-Level Spanish Courses.

This article reports on an exploratory study, which examines learners’ rating of culture in relation to other concepts in advanced Spanish courses and their justification of the ratings attributed. Open-ended responses, elicited from a questionnaire completed by 179 respondents, were analysed line by line using an interpretive approach. Data analysis revealed that culture was often conceptualised as a set of products, behaviours, historical events, and customs tied to a country. A majority of the participants demonstrated an interest for cultivating cultural knowledge in the classroom with only a minority questioning the teachability or relevance of culture. Learners’ perspectives thus either aligned with an instrumentalist view of language study, an in-between, or a constitutive view and approach to culture. The examination of the responses suggests that learners possess an understanding of culture as only useful in context, specifically when travelling or studying abroad. Findings also point to a need i...
GiPSi: a framework for open source/open architecture software development for organ-level surgical simulation

This paper presents the architectural details of an evolving open source/open architecture software framework for developing organ-level surgical simulations. Our goal is to facilitate shared development of reusable models, to accommodate heterogeneous models of computation, and to provide a framework for interfacing multiple heterogeneous models. The framework provides an application programming interface for interfacing dynamic models defined over spatial domains. It is specifically designed to be independent of the specifics of the modeling methods used, and therefore facilitates seamless integration of heterogeneous models and processes. Furthermore, each model has separate geometries for visualization, simulation, and interfacing, allowing the model developer to choose the most natural geometric representation for each case. Input/output interfaces for visualization and haptics for real-time interactive applications have also been provided
Towards An Assembly Plan From Observation: Part II: Correction Of Motion parameters Based On Fact Contact Constraints

We have been developing a novel method to program a robot, an APO (assembly-plan- from-observation) method. A human performs assem- bly operations in front of the APO system's TV caimera. The APO system recognizes such assembly operations and generates an assembly plan to repeat the :assembly operations using its robot arm. We have developped a APO system which extracts two kinds of information from observed object config- urations: 1) face-contact relation and 2) motion pa- rameters necessary to move objects around. Under the presence of error, due to error-contaminated motion pa- rameters, the system may fail to perform an assembly operation, although a face-contact relation and thus an assembly operation is correctly recovered. This paper proposes a method to correct eirr~lneous motion parameters based on a face contact re)(ation. We assume that a given face contact relation reflects the actual face contact correctly. Motion paramleters are determined by solving face contact constraint equaitions, given by face contact relations, simultaneously )using the singular value decomposition method. We implement this method in the APO system, apply the method to several assembly examples, and verify the effectiveness of tlhe method. are the most promising. Yet, these methods are often in- convepient and impractical.
The genotypic distribution of shared-epitope DRB1 alleles suggests a recessive mode of inheritance of the rheumatoid arthritis disease-susceptibility gene

Objective. To test whether the genotypic distribution of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)–associated DRB1 alleles suggests that the DRB1-a ssociated disease-susceptibility gene has a recessive or additive (dominant) mode of inheritance. Methods. Caucasian patients with RA and control subjects were recruited from a faculty outpatient practice. DRB1 typing was done by several DNA-based techniques: polymerase chain reaction (PCR), followed by dot-blot hybridization with sequence-specific oligonucleotides, conventional and PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs), and a multiplex amplification–refractory mutation RFLP system. The genotypic distribution of shared-epitope DRB1 alleles was analyzed by antigen genotype frequency among patients. The analytical method postulates a linkage-disequilibrium model with a disease locus close to a marker locus and a marker allele in linkage disequilibrium with the disease-susceptibility allele. In this instance, the marker allele was defined alternatively by any DR4-g roup allele, by any DR4-g roup or DR1-g roup allele, by any DR4-g roup shared-epitope allele, by any DRC-group shared-epitope allele plus DRB1*0101, or by any shared-epitope DRB1 allele. Observed numbers were compared with those predicted for recessive mode or additive (dominant) mode of inheritance of the DRB1-a ssociated RA disease-susceptibility gene. Results. The genotypic distribution of shared-epitope DRB1 alleles (DRB1*0401, *0404, *0405, *0408, *0101, *0102, or *1001) fit that predicted for a recessive mode of inheritance and was significantly different from that predicted for an additive (dominant) mode. When the analysis was restricted to shared-epitope DR4 alleles alone (DRB1*0401, *0404, *0405, or *0408), the observed genotype numbers fit the recessive mode best. When DR1-g roup alleles were added to DR4-g roup alleles, or alternatively, when the major shared-epitope DR1 allele (*0101) was added to DR4-g roup shared-epitope alleles, there was a less significant deviation from the additive mode of inheritance. The reason for this was derived by comparison of observed genotype frequencies to those expected under Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium; there was a deficit of persons with DRB1*0401,*0101 and an excess of *0101,X. Conclusion. The genotypic distribution of shared-epitope DRB1 marker alleles suggests that the mode of inheritance of the DRB1-a ssociated disease susceptibility gene must be recessive and not additive (dominant).
Relationship between markers of platelet activation and inflammation with disease activity in Wegener's granulomatosis

Objective. There remains a need for biomarkers to guide therapy in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis. Our objective was to determine whether measures of platelet activation or inflammation are associated with disease activity in Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG). Methods. Study subjects were participants in a clinical trial. Soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L), C-reactive protein, interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), P-selectin, vascular endothelial growth factor, and proteinase 3 (PR3)-specific ANCA were measured by ELISA using plasma samples obtained at baseline (active disease), at remission, and prior to, during, and after first flares. Disease activity was assessed by the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for WG (BVAS/WG). Association of biomarkers with disease activity was determined with conditional logistic and linear regression. Results. Over a mean followup of 27 months, 180 subjects underwent 2044 visits; markers were measured in 563 samples. Longitudinally, all markers other than IL-6 were associated with disease activity. The strongest associations for active disease at baseline versus remission were observed for sCD40L (OR 4.72, 95% CI 2.47–9.03), P-selectin (OR 6.26, 95% CI 2.78–14.10), PR3-ANCA (OR 9.41, 4.03–21.99), and inversely for MCP-1 (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.22–0.57). BVAS/WG increased by 0.80 (95% CI 0.44–1.16), 0.83 (95% CI 0.42–1.25), and 0.81 (95% CI 0.48–1.15) per unit-increase in PR3-ANCA, sCD40L, and P-selectin, respectively; and decreased by 1.54 (95% CI 0.96–2.12) per unit-increase in MCP-1. Conclusion. Cytokines arising from within the circulation, including those of platelet activation, correlate with disease activity in WG.
Delayed onset of inhibition of return in schizophrenia.

Abstract Peripheral visual cues occurring before a subsequent target result in an almost immediate facilitatory and then a later inhibitory effect on target detection. In a detailed parametric investigation, the authors compared schizophrenic subjects (SCZ) and control subjects (CONT) to examine whether they showed any differences in the time course of these nonpredictive peripheral cuing effects. Subjects fixated a central position and made saccadic responses to visual targets. Targets were presented 10° to the left or right of fixation and were preceded at various time intervals by visual cues. Targets occurred with equal probability in either the same position as the cue or in the opposite, uncued location, and 10 delay periods were used corresponding to stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs) of 66, 79, 106, 133, 159, 226, 305, 505, 705, and 1000 ms. All subjects showed facilitation for short cue–target delays and inhibition of return (IOR) for longer delays. SCZ, however, showed an apparent shift in the time course of cuing effects in the form of a delayed onset of IOR. Using a task of reflexive orienting, these results support findings of a delayed rather than an absent inhibitory process in medicated SCZ.
TRPV4 Forms a Novel Ca2+ Signaling Complex With Ryanodine Receptors and BKCa Channels

Vasodilatory factors produced by the endothelium are critical for the maintenance of normal blood pressure and flow. We hypothesized that endothelial signals are transduced to underlying vascular smooth muscle by vanilloid transient receptor potential (TRPV) channels. TRPV4 message was detected in RNA from cerebral artery smooth muscle cells. In patch-clamp experiments using freshly isolated cerebral myocytes, outwardly rectifying whole-cell currents with properties consistent with those of expressed TRPV4 channels were evoked by the TRPV4 agonist 4alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (4alpha-PDD) (5 micromol/L) and the endothelium-derived arachidonic acid metabolite 11,12 epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (11,12 EET) (300 nmol/L). Using high-speed laser-scanning confocal microscopy, we found that 11,12 EET increased the frequency of unitary Ca2+ release events (Ca2+ sparks) via ryanodine receptors located on the sarcoplasmic reticulum of cerebral artery smooth muscle cells. EET-induced Ca2+ sparks activated nearby sarcolemmal large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BKCa) channels, measured as an increase in the frequency of transient K+ currents (referred to as "spontaneous transient outward currents" [STOCs]). 11,12 EET-induced increases in Ca2+ spark and STOC frequency were inhibited by lowering external Ca2+ from 2 mmol/L to 10 micromol/L but not by voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel inhibitors, suggesting that these responses require extracellular Ca2+ influx via channels other than voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. Antisense-mediated suppression of TRPV4 expression in intact cerebral arteries prevented 11,12 EET-induced smooth muscle hyperpolarization and vasodilation. Thus, we conclude that TRPV4 forms a novel Ca2+ signaling complex with ryanodine receptors and BKCa channels that elicits smooth muscle hyperpolarization and arterial dilation via Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release in response to an endothelial-derived factor.
Measuring Video Game Engagement Through the Cognitive and Affective Dimensions

Aim. This study investigates a novel technique for measuring video game engagement by capturing behavioral data with little task interference. Background. Flow Theory and Cognitive Load Theory provide insight into understanding engagement by analyzing the interactions between skill and task challenge. The development of this real-time measurement of engagement provides a more precise diagnostic method for designing challenging, yet cognitively engaging, tasks. Method. Flow Theory guided the design of three conditions (Boredom, Flow, and Frustration) for a video game played by 156 participants. The authors tested a potential measure of engagement based on the number of times a participant clicked a game-clock during gameplay and during intermissions, along with performance and workload data. We differentiated the three conditions by synthesizing game-clock clicks during gameplay, during intermission, and overall cognitive load. Results. Boredom showed lower cognitive load than Flow and Frustration. Frustration had significantly lower game-clock clicks during gameplay and significantly higher clicks during intermission than Flow or Boredom. Conclusion. This study's measurement approach could potentially be used to measure cognitive and affective elements of engagement, helping to identify where in a task a person may reach a point of disengagement, and where they may choose to reengage.
Caudal hindbrain participation in the suppression of feeding by central and peripheral bombesin

We have previously demonstrated that bombesin (BBS) infused into the fourth cerebral ventricle in rats suppressed feeding at doses 10-1,000 times less than those required after lateral ventricular administration. These results suggest that centrally administered BBS acts in the caudal hindbrain to suppress food intake. To investigate the participation of caudal hindbrain structures in fourth-ventricular BBS-induced suppression of feeding, we made lesions that destroyed the following: 1) area postrema (AP) and 2) and medial nucleus of the solitary tract (NST). Additionally, we examined the role of the AP/NST in the suppression of food intake after peripheral BBS administration. Our experiments revealed that lesions of the AP/NST abolished the suppression of food intake by fourth-ventricular BBS and attenuated the suppression of food intake by peripheral BBS. Lesions restricted to the AP attenuated the suppression of food intake by fourth-ventricular BBS but had no effect on suppression of intake by peripherally administered BBS. These results suggest that the NST may be a common neural substrate for the inhibition of food intake by both centrally and peripherally administered BBS.
Recent advances in hyaluronic acid hydrogels for biomedical applications

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is widely used in the design of engineered hydrogels, due to its biofunctionality, as well as numerous sites for modification with reactive groups. There are now widespread examples of modified HA macromers that form either covalent or physical hydrogels through crosslinking reactions such as with click chemistry or supramolecular assemblies of guest-host pairs. HA hydrogels range from relatively static matrices to those that exhibit spatiotemporally dynamic properties through external triggers like light. Such hydrogels are being explored for the culture of cells in vitro, as carriers for cells in vivo, or to deliver therapeutics, including in an environmentally responsive manner. The future will bring new examples of HA hydrogels due to the synthetic diversity of HA.
Parenthesis Grammars

A decision procedure is given which determines whether the languages defined by two parenthesis grammars are equal.
Ultra-efficient CMOS fiber-to-chip grating couplers

Apodized bi-level fiber-to-chip grating couplers, designed using a complex-wavevector band-structure approach, are demonstrated in a commercially available, monolithic SOI CMOS process achieving 92% (−0.36dB) coupling efficiency.
Perturbation of the Normal Mechanisms of Intraleukocytic Killing of Bacteria

Remarkable advances have occurred during the past few decades in our understanding of the physiology of the phagocytic system and especially of the morphologic and metabolic changes that occur during phagocytosis. From this knowledge a concept has gradually emerged that certain microbial species, especially obligate intracellular parasites, survive within phagocytic cells because of the direct effect of microbial factors on the phagocyte rather than simple resistance of the parasite to the normal mechanisms of intraphagocytic killing.
The National Gallery at War

With the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Britain found herself involved in a European war for the first time in nearly a century. The National Gallery had thus been immune to the possibility of attack by hostile forces, although it is interesting to note that when war was declared, the Gallery had only recently reopened to the public following an attack on a Bellini by a suffragette.
Research on assessment system for public health emergencies of disease prevention and control institutions

At present,the health administrative departments pay great attention on the public health emergencies. The disease prevention and control institutions( CDC) are the main force in response of public health emergencies,and the response quality of CDC directly influences the success rate of public health emergency response. Therefore,the establishment of assessment system for public health emergency response of CDC is helpful to improve the response sensitivity,as well as effectively and orderly carry out the public health emergency response.
Learning Outcomes in an online vs traditional course

Relative enrollment in online classes has tripled over the last ten years, but the efficacy of learning online remains unclear. While two recent Meta analyses report higher exam grades for online vs. traditional classes, this body of research has been marked by two recurrent limitations: (1) a possible problem of selection bias wherein students self select the mode of course delivery and (2) a relative lack of proctoring of exams in online sections. Both of these confounders contribute to observed differences in performance. The present study addresses these limitations. Data refer to 64 students enrolled in criminology classes at a Carnegie research extensive university. Due to an administrative error in the course schedule, which failed to list one section as online, students were unable to self select into the online section, creating a rare opportunity for quasi randomization of students into sections. Both sections were taught by the same instructor. The dependent variable is the score on the standardized final examination. All exams were proctored by the instructor. The central independent variable is method of delivery of content: online vs. the traditional classroom. Controlling for other constructs, there was no significant difference between exam scores. Also, student evaluations did not differ between sections. Controlling for selection effects and the proctoring of exams, the academic performance of online students was the same as that of traditional students. Future work is needed for other courses, other fields, and other types of academic institutions.
The Prognostic Implications of Nucleated Red Blood Cells in Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Abstract Abstract 5058 Background: The presence of elevated nucleated red blood cells (NRBC) in the peripheral blood smear points towards the presence of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or myelophthisis. The intent of our study was to assess the prognostic implication of the presence of increased NRBC in patients with MDS. Methods: Retrospective single institution chart review over a period of 10 years from 2000 to 2010. Our study population comprised 288 diagnosed cases of MDS whose diagnoses were made by bone marrow (BM) examination. Results: 174 patients were male (60.4%) and 114 were female (39.6%). Average age at diagnosis of MDS was 71.92 years. 204 patients were Caucasian (70.8%), 69 patients were African-American (23.9%), 1 patient was Hispanic, 2 patients were Asian, and race was not documented in 12 patients. 117 patients had intermediate-1 IPSS (40.6%), 79 had low IPSS (27.4%), 54 patients had intermediate-2 IPSS (18.7%), 26 patients had high IPSS (9.0%), and 12 patients had unknown IPSS. 131 patients (45.5%) had undetectable NRBC in their peripheral smear prior to their initial diagnostic BM examination. 13 out of these 131 patients (9.92%) progressed to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). 157 patients (54.5%) had one or more NRBC in their peripheral smear prior to their diagnostic BM examination. 27 out of these 157 patients (17.19%) progressed to AML. Survival in days was available in 59 patients. 19 out of 59 patients had undetectable NRBC in their peripheral smear prior to their initial diagnostic BM examination with an average survival of 1,256.2 days. Only one patient in this group underwent allogeneic matched unrelated peripheral stem cell transplantation (PSCT) with a survival of 2,532 days. 40 out of 59 patients had one or more NRBC in their peripheral smear prior to their diagnostic BM examination with an average survival of 850.4 days. Only 3 patients in this group underwent allogeneic matched PSCT (2 related and 1 unrelated) with an average survival of 924.3 days. Conclusions: The presence of nucleated red blood cells in the peripheral blood smear of patients with MDS seems to be a marker of more aggressive disease, higher rates of progression to AML and portends worse survival. To our knowledge this is the first study documenting the prognostic implication of NRBC in the peripheral circulation of patients with MDS. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Correspondence analysis to evaluate the transmission of Staphylococcus aureus strains in two New York State maximum-security prisons

Prisons/jails are thought to amplify the transmission of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) particularly methicillin-resistant SA infection and colonisation. Two independently pooled cross-sectional samples of detainees being admitted or discharged from two New York State maximum-security prisons were used to explore this concept. Private interviews of participants were conducted, during which the anterior nares and oropharynx were sampled and assessed for SA colonisation. Log-binomial regression and correspondence analysis (CA) were used to evaluate the prevalence of colonisation at entry as compared with discharge. Approximately 51% of admitted (N = 404) and 41% of discharged (N = 439) female detainees were colonised with SA. Among males, 59% of those admitted (N = 427) and 49% of those discharged (N = 393) were colonised. Females had a statistically significant higher prevalence (1·26: P = 0·003) whereas males showed no significant difference (1·06; P = 0·003) in SA prevalence between entry and discharge. CA demonstrated that some strains, such as spa types t571 and t002, might have an affinity for certain mucosal sites. Contrary to our hypothesis, the prison setting did not amplify SA transmission, and CA proved to be a useful tool in describing the population structure of strains according to time and/or mucosal site.
Why Painting Matters: Some Phenomenological Approaches

AbstractThe question of the value of painting—why paintings should matter to us—has been addressed by a number of Phenomenological philosophers. In this paper, I critically review recent discussions of this topic by Simon Crowell and Paul Crowther—while also looking back to work by Merleau-Ponty and Michel Henry. All the views I discuss claim that painting is important (at least in part) because it can make manifest certain philosophically important truths. While sympathetic to this approach, I discuss various problems with it. Firstly, are these truths verbally explicable, or only communicable through the artwork itself? Secondly, if its truthfulness is the reason why we value painting, can this criterion track our intuitive judgements about relative artistic merit? Thirdly, can the truthfulness of painting be a reason for valuing it if that truth is divorced from its traditional association with Beauty and Goodness? I suggest ways in which the first and second problems could in principle be solved, but ...
Discourse Analysis: The Questions Discourse Analysts Ask and How They Answer Them

To say that discourse analysis is a chameleon in the social sciences would not be an overstatement; it is a research method, a perspective, and a subject in its own right. It is employed and studied by scholars in a wide range of disciplines, including linguistics, applied linguistics, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, and many more. The multi- and inter-disciplinary nature of discourse analysis, however, is both the reason for its appeal and a source of confusion for beginning analysts. Discourse Analysis: The Questions Analysts Ask and How They Answer Them sets out to identify core inquiries that discourse analysts aspire to answer. Inspired by years of teaching Discourse Analysis at the graduate level, Waring’s goal is to “introduce [the] vastness and diversity [of discourse analysis] to beginning students of discourse” by presenting “the kinds of questions discourse analysts ask and how they answer them” (p. 3-4). This book, then, seeks to help readers cultivate a principled understanding of what it means to do discourse analysis.
Ancylotela angustinotum Pineda, a Second Species of the Genus Ancylotela Waterhouse, 1882 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) from Argentina

Ancylotela angustinotum Pineda, new species (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is described and illustrated from a single female specimen collected in San Juan Province, Argentina. The new taxon is easily distinguished from Ancylotela oculata Waterhouse, 1882 by its subparallel-sided body shape, pronotum almost as long as wide, and large, M-shaped elytral spots.
Intensive care unit complications and outcomes of adult patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: A retrospective study of 16 cases.

Intensive care unit complications and outcomes of adult patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: A retrospective study of 16 cases
Jitter-Free Multi-Wavelength Fiber Sources Using Intermodal Solitons

We demonstrate energetic (30nJ) dual-wavelength ultrashort-pulse sources via soliton self-mode conversion in a multimode fiber that are naturally temporally synchronized. Power fluctuations of resultant sum-frequency signals are 11.4dB lower than conventional fiber based dual-wavelength approaches. © 2019 The Author(s)
A 25-year-old Cambodian native with hematemesis

Presentation of Case A 25-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of hematemesis. He was well until one year earlier, when upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding developed, and the patient was informed of hepatic enlargement; no medical follow-up was arranged. The patient was well thereafter except for fatigue during the several weeks preceding entry. One day before admission the patient became nauseated. That evening he vomited brightred clots of blood. He was taken by ambulance to another hospital; he continued to vomit large volumes of fresh blood en route and was lethargic but arousable; saline solution was infused by vein. . . .
Empathy, Insight and Objectivity: Edith Stein & Bernard Lonergan

Edith Stein’s study of empathy has much to offer to the current growth of research into empathy. This article first summarizes her phenomenological account of the complex layers involved in empathy...
Amino-acid sequence of the "Qbeta" coat protein.

THE RNA phages provide an excellent system in which to determine the primary structure of a messenger RNA and relate this to the proteins which it codes1,2. By establishing the frame of reading, it is then possible to locate initiation and termination sites as well as extragenic regions3,4. Our previous work concerned the amino-acid sequences of the f2 and R17 coat proteins5,6. Using R17 it was possible to identify the initiation region corresponding to the coat protein cistron7; the termination region corresponding to the carboxy-terminus of the same cistron4; and an internal region of 57 nucleotides out of this cistron corresponding to residues 81–99 of the coat protein3.
How is democracy possible? Critical realist, social psychological and psychodynamic approaches

This paper develops a theory of how democratic governance is possible. It analyses democracy as a laminated system consisting of three interdependent levels – the political/institutional, the socia...
Coding moves: Design and research of teaching computational thinking through dance choreography and virtual interactions

Over the past 7 years, we pioneered the development of a program blending dance choreography, computer programming, and a virtual environment to teach computational thinking, broadening pathways fo...
Emerging OCT Technologies for Glaucoma

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a novel imaging modality that provides visualization and, in some machines, quantification of microcirculation in the superficial optic nerve, peripapillary retina, and the macula of glaucoma patients in a noninvasive fashion. Among commercially available OCTA devices, the AngioVue® (Optovue Inc., Fremont, CA), Swept-Source OCT Angio® (Topcon Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), and Spectralis angiography module (Heidelberg Engineering, Germany) are based on amplitude-derived algorithms [1]. The Angioplex® and PlexElite® (Zeiss Meditec Inc., Dublin, CA) employ a combination of amplitude and phase-variance techniques [2]. High intra-visit repeatability and inter-visit reproducibility have been demonstrated [3, 4].
Calcium for Florida Turfgrasses

Calcium is the dominant cation in all soils of agronomic importance. This 3-page document will explain the function of Calcium in turfgrasses, describe situations where applications would or would not be of value in turfgrass management, and identify calcium sources. Written by T. W. Shaddox and published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department, March 2018. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep554