cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chapter 14 Resuscitating real business cycles

Abstract The Real Business Cycle (RBC) research program has grown specularly over the last decade, as its concepts and methods have diffused into mainstream macroeconomics. Yet, there is increasing skepticism that technology shocks are a major source of business fluctuations. This chapter exposits the basic RBC model and shows that it requires large technology shocks to produce realistic business cycles. While Solow residuals are sufficiently volatile, these imply frequent technological regress. Productivity studies permitting unobserved factor variation find much smaller technology shocks, suggesting the imminent demise of real business cycles. However, we show that greater factor variation also dramatically amplifies shocks: a RBC model with varying capital utilization yields realistic business cycles from small, nonnegative changes in technology.
In Defense of the Wrong Kind of Reason

Skepticism about the ‘wrong kind’ of reasons—the view that wrong-kind reasons are reasons to want and bring about certain attitudes, but not reasons for those attitudes—is more often assumed than argued for. Jonathan Way (2012) sets out to remedy this: he argues that skeptics about, but not defenders of, wrong-kind reasons can explain a distinctive pattern of transmission among such reasons and claims that this fact lends significant support to the skeptical view. I argue that Way's positive case for wrong-kind reason skepticism fails. I conclude with an account of what's needed to resolve the debate between wrong-kind reason skeptics and defenders.
High Resolution Atmospheric Sensing Using UAVs

A technique to obtain high resolution atmospheric data using small mobile sensors is presented. A fluid based control scheme using smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) is implemented to perform field measurements in a leader follower arrangement for a team of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with environmental sensors. A virtual leader is created by using a reduced density SPH particle to guide the unmanned aerial vehicles along a desired path. Simulations using the control scheme demonstrate excellent measurement ability, swarm coherence, and leader following capability for large swarms. A K-means algorithm is used to reduce the measurement error and provide accurate interpolation of the field measurement data. Experimental results are presented which demonstrate the guidance and collision avoidance properties of the control scheme using real UAVs. Readings from the UAV’s temperature and humidity sensor suite are used with the K-means algorithm to produce a smooth estimation of the respective distribution fields.
Biliary fibrosis drives liver repopulation and phenotype transition of transplanted hepatocytes

Background & Aims Current research focuses on developing alternative strategies to restore decreased liver mass prior to the onset of end-stage liver disease. Cell engraftment/repopulation requires regeneration in normal liver, but we have shown that severe liver injury stimulates repopulation without partial hepatectomy (PH). We have now investigated whether a less severe injury, secondary biliary fibrosis, would drive engraftment/repopulation of ectopically transplanted mature hepatocytes. Methods Ductular proliferation and progressive fibrosis in dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (DPPIV) − F344 rats was induced by common bile duct ligation (BDL). Purified DPPIV + /green fluorescent protein (GFP) + hepatocytes were infused without PH into the spleen of BDL rats and compared to rats without BDL. Results Within one week, transplanted hepatocytes were detected in hepatic portal areas and at the periphery of expanding portal regions. DPPIV + /GFP + repopulating cell clusters of different sizes were observed in BDL rats but not untreated normal recipients. Surprisingly, some engrafted hepatocytes formed CK-19/claudin-7 expressing epithelial cells resembling cholangiocytes within repopulating clusters. In addition, substantial numbers of hepatocytes engrafted at the intrasplenic injection site assembled into multicellular groups. These also showed biliary "transdifferentiation" in the majority of intrasplenic injection sites of rats that received BDL but not in untreated recipients. PCR array analysis showed upregulation of osteopontin ( SPP1 ). Cell culture studies demonstrated increased Itgβ4 , HNF1β , HNF6 , Sox-9 , and CK-19 mRNA expression in hepatocytes incubated with osteopontin, suggesting that this secreted protein promotes dedifferentiation of hepatocytes. Conclusions Our studies show that biliary fibrosis stimulates liver repopulation by ectopically transplanted hepatocytes and also stimulates hepatocyte transition towards a biliary epithelial phenotype.
Nutrient extraction by cold-exposed mice: a test of digestive safety margins

We examined the size of the "safety margin," if any, by which the small intestine's daily capacities to absorb nutrients exceed prevailing daily intakes of those nutrients. This safety margin, also known as reserve capacity, is widely assumed to be enormously large. As a test, we suddenly transferred mice from an ambient temperature of 22 to 6 degrees C and measured food intake, apparent digestive efficiency, intestinal morphometrics, and intestinal brush-border uptake capacities for D-glucose and L-proline over the next 28 days. Food intake jumped 68% within the first 12 h and rose in 2 days to a new plateau level 2.5 times the previous intake. Nevertheless, apparent digestive efficiency remained unchanged, even within the first 12 h, and intestinal transit times also remained unchanged, implying the existence of at least some safety margin. Masses of the small and large intestine, liver, kidneys, and spleen nevertheless increased within 4 days by 16-20%. Glucose and proline uptakes per milligram intestine increased by approximately 5%, so that the intestine's summed uptake capacities for these solutes increased by 24-26%. The animal's intestinal adaptation expressed in these increased uptake capacities implies that safety margins at the new plateau value of food intake would otherwise have been dangerously narrow. Comparison of calculated summed uptake capacities with measured dietary intakes suggests that safety margins are approximately 220-300% in mice at 22 degrees C, only 27-50% in mice at 6 degrees C before intestinal adaptation, but 60-88% in mice at 6 degrees C after intestinal adaptation.
Vector Integrators

In this paper it is shown that it is impossible to realize a causal, linear, time-invariant two-port which integrates an arbitrary modulation on a suppressed carrier input while leaving the carrier unchanged. It is shown further that a realization of a four-port integrator is possible, provided the two inputs to the four-port have the same modulation but are on quadrature carriers. A specific realization of such an integrator, called a vector itegrator, is exhibited and its applications are discussed.
Epidemiology of hyperkalemia: an update

Hyperkalemia represents one of the most important acute electrolyte abnormalities, due to its potential for causing life-threatening arrhythmias. In individuals with normal kidney function hyperkalemia occurs relatively infrequently, but it can be much more common in patients who have certain predisposing conditions. Patients with chronic kidney disease are the most severely affected group, by virtue of their decreased ability to excrete potassium and because they commonly have additional predisposing conditions that often cluster within patients with chronic kidney disease. These conditions include comorbidities (e.g., diabetes mellitus) and the use of various medications, of which the most important are renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASis). Hyperkalemia is associated with increased risk for all-cause mortality and for malignant arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation. The increased risk for adverse outcomes is observed even in serum potassium ranges that are often not considered targets for therapeutic interventions. The heightened risk of mortality associated with hyperkalemia is present in all patient populations, even those in whom hyperkalemia occurs otherwise rarely, such as individuals with normal kidney function.
Suppression of evoked potentials with continued ion transport during anoxia in turtle brain

A key to turtle brain survival during anoxia is continued ion transport and avoidance of anoxic depolarization. Previous findings that ATP concentration remained constant during prolonged anoxia and calculations that ATP production decreased indicate that compensatory processes, other than consumption of energy stores or increased anaerobic glycolysis, must also contribute to ion homeostasis and brain survival. To determine whether preservation of ion transport is associated with changes in electrophysiology during loss of oxidative metabolism, the brains of pentobarbital sodium-anesthetized turtles were electrically stimulated 1) to provoke measurable increments in extracellular K+ activity (a degrees k) for determination of rates of K+ reaccumulation at the stimulus site and 2) to elicit polysynaptic extracellular field potentials (evoked potentials) recordable in the olfactory bulb. During anoxia, base-line a degrees k rose only a few millimolar, and rates of reaccumulation of K+, incremented by stimulation were slightly but not significantly slowed. In contrast, postsynaptic orthodromic responses of olfactory bulb granule cells were markedly depressed by anoxia. Monosynaptic responses of granule cells to antidromic stimulation of the lateral olfactory tract were less affected, and compound action potentials in the olfactory nerve were unchanged by anoxia. These data suggest that synaptic transmission in turtle brain, as in that of mammal, is highly dependent on oxidative metabolism and that the turtle brain may effectively conserve energy for ion transport during anoxia by depression of electrical activity.
Immobilization of Schistosoma mansoni miracidia by immune serum.

SummaryMiracidia of S. mansoni were promptly immobilized when placed in heated sera of hamsters and monkeys infected with this parasite. No immobilization occurred in sera from non-infected animals. The factor developed early in the infection and was still present in the sera of monkeys which had been infected with S. japonica 5 1/2 years previously. The immobilization of the miracidium appears to result from immobilization of the cilia. Cilia immobilization became less complete in high dilutions of serum and was usually confined to specific areas of the miracidium.
Counting Perfect Matchings in Hexagonal Systems Associated with Benzenoids

Many hydrocarbons involve hexagonal rings; benzene, consisting of a single hexagon of carbons with hydrogens attached, is the original example. It turns out that the number of perfect matchings in certain associated graphs is relevant to the chemistry of these hydrocarbons. Furthermore, standard methods of undergraduate linear algebra and discrete mathematics can be used to count the matchings, and familiar counting numbers show up. In this article we present this easily accessible but seemingly little known connection between chemistry and mathematics. According to the chemistry folklore, the German chemist August Kekule (18291896) discovered the molecular structure of benzene after he dreamed of a snake swallowing its own tail. Apparently, the dream led to his conjecture that benzene consists of 6 carbon atoms, each linked to 1 hydrogen atom via a carbon-hydrogen bond, and that the carbon atoms are linked to each other via a cycle of length 6 consisting of alternating single and double carbon-carbon bonds. FIGURE 1 illustrates a molecular model of benzene. Kekule's discovery initiated the study of special types of graphs used to model benzene-like molecules called benzenoids.
Male-Killing Spiroplasma Alters Behavior of the Dosage Compensation Complex during Drosophila melanogaster Embryogenesis

Numerous arthropods harbor maternally transmitted bacteria that induce the preferential death of males [1-7]. This sex-specific lethality benefits the bacteria because males are "dead ends" regarding bacterial transmission, and their absence may result in additional resources for their viable female siblings who can thereby more successfully transmit the bacteria [5]. Although these symbionts disrupt a range of developmental processes [8-10], the underlying cellular mechanisms are largely unknown. It was previously shown that mutations in genes of the dosage compensation pathway of Drosophila melanogaster suppressed male killing caused by the bacterium, Spiroplasma [10]. This result suggested that dosage compensation is a target of Spiroplasma. However, it remains unclear how this pathway is affected, and whether the underlying interactions require the male-specific cellular environment. Here, we investigated the cellular basis of male embryonic lethality in D. melanogaster induced by Spiroplasma. We found that the dosage compensation complex (DCC), which acetylates X chromatin in males [11], becomes mis-localized to ectopic regions of the nucleus immediately prior to the killing phase. This effect was accompanied by inappropriate histone acetylation and genome-wide mis-regulation of gene expression. Artificially induced formation of the DCC in infected females, through transgenic expression of the DCC-specific gene msl-2, resulted in mis-localization of this complex to non-X regions and early Spiroplasma-induced death, mirroring the killing effects in males. These findings strongly suggest that Spiroplasma initiates male killing by targeting the dosage compensation machinery directly and independently of other cellular features characteristic of the male sex.
Correlation between telomere length and age in Chinese pine(Pinus tabuliformis Carr.)

Telomere is a specialized chromatin domain composed of telomere DNA and various telomere-associated proteins, which plays a crucial role in ensuring genomic integrity. A number of data showed that telomere is strongly associated with cell division, senescence and age. Based on the studies in gingko and bristlecone pine,Pinus tabulaeformis were selected as experiment materials. The needle leaves were gathered with the age ranging from 7 to 800 years old. Using TRF assay and Telo Tool software, the telomere lengths were measured in needle leaves. The result showed that the telomere length increased with the age of the trees. On this base, a mathematical model of the correlation between telomere length and age of P. tabulaeformis was built. It was expected to be applied in the age determination of trees without injuries in the future.
Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities Research Programs of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

* Abbreviations: AIR-P — : Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health ASD — : autism spectrum disorder CAA — : Combating Autism Act DBPNet — : Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Research Network HRSA — : Health Resources and Services Administration MCHB — : Maternal and Child Health Bureau In the United States, it is estimated that 1 in 68 children have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network.1 Based on data from the 2011–2012 National Survey of Children’s Health, a recent report suggests an even higher prevalence estimate of 1 in 50 children with ASD.2 These increasing prevalence data indicate that ASD continues to be a major public health concern in the United States requiring coordinated and collaborative efforts at the national, state, and community levels. Since 1995, the US Department of Health and Human Services has supported initiatives aimed at increasing our understanding of ASD, its causes, and potential treatments.3 These initiatives have paved the way to a more coordinated federal effort to address ASD and other developmental disabilities with the enactment of the Combating Autism Act of 2006 (CAA). This act authorized programs to address ASD and other developmental disabilities through research, screening, intervention, and education. Congressional appropriations included funding for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to implement section 399BB of the CAA4 to address the following: 1. increase awareness of ASD and other developmental disabilities; 2. reduce barriers to screening and diagnosis; 3. support … Address correspondence to Hae Young Park, MPH, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Ln, 18W51, Rockville, MD 20857. E-mail: hpark{at}hrsa.gov
Follow-up outcomes after benign concordant MRI-guided breast biopsy.

Abstract Objective To evaluate outcomes of benign concordant magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided breast biopsy. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 611 consecutive MRI-guided breast core biopsies at our institution from 2005 to 2012. Benign concordant cases with MRI follow-up constituted the study group. Lesion appearance on follow-up MRI was assessed and the false-negative rate was calculated. Results Eighty-four lesions in 68 women underwent benign concordant MRI-guided biopsy with subsequent MRI follow-up. Mean time to first follow-up MRI was 10.5 months. Two false negatives were identified on follow-up at 8 and 26 months. Conclusions We report a false-negative rate of MRI-guided breast biopsy of 2.4%.
Autism and Hydroxyglutaric Aciduria

A 3-year-old boy with L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (HGA) who demonstrated severe autistic symptoms is reported from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece; VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
Strength and Conditioning for the Young Tennis Player

Strength and conditioning for the young tennis player involves the progressive implementation of appropriate drills and exercises to develop general athleticism along with specific areas that are important for the tennis player. These areas include: jumping, hopping, throwing, catching, strength, power, speed, coordination, balance, endurance, and flexibility.
A Medium-Voltage Hybrid DC Circuit Breaker, Part I: Solid-State Main Breaker Based on 15 kV SiC Emitter Turn-OFF Thyristor

This paper discusses the design of a 10 kV and 200 A hybrid dc circuit breaker suitable for the protection of the dc power systems in electric ships. The proposed hybrid dc circuit breaker employs a Thompson coil based ultrafast mechanical switch (MS) with the assistance of two additional solid-state power devices. A low-voltage (80 V) metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs)-based commutating switch (CS) is series connected with the MS to realize the zero current turn-OFF of the MS. In this way, the arcing issue with the MS is avoided. A 15 kV SiC emitter turn-OFF thyristor-based main breaker (MB) is parallel connected with the MS and CS branch to interrupt the fault current. A stack of MOVs parallel with the MB are used to clamp the voltage across the hybrid dc circuit breaker during interruption. This paper focuses on the electronic parts of the hybrid dc circuit breaker, and a companion paper will elucidate the principle and operation of the fast acting MS and the overall operation of the hybrid dc circuit breaker. The selection and design of both the high-voltage and low-voltage electronic components in the hybrid dc circuit breaker are presented in this paper. The turn-OFF capability of the MB with and without snubber circuit is experimentally tested, validating its suitability for the hybrid dc circuit breaker application. The CSs' conduction performances are tested up to 200 A, and its current commutating during fault current interruption is also analyzed. Finally, the hybrid dc circuit breaker demonstrated a fast current interruption within 2 ms at 7 kV and 100 A.
A study of pixilated CdZnTe detectors for neutrino research

We investigated the performance of a pixilated CdZnTe detector that could detect signatures resulting from rare double-beta neutrino-less decays. The room-temperature detector contains radioactive isotopes which allow us to study rare decay modes. In order to differentiate between real signals from background, it must have excellent energy resolution. The CdZnTe's inherent hole trapping makes it challenging to achieve high energy resolution. The pixilated electrode is one of the schemes to achieve better energy resolution and more efficient background rejection than planar electrode. We are also investigating the detector's tracking capability.
Flexible integro-difference equation modeling for spatio-temporal data

The choice of kernel in an integro-difference equation (IDE) approach to model spatio-temporal data is studied. By using approximations to stochastic partial differential equations, it is shown that higher order cumulants and tail behavior of the kernel affect how an IDE process evolves over time. The asymmetric Laplace and the family of stable distributions are presented as alternatives to the Gaussian kernel. The asymmetric Laplace has an extra parameter controlling skewness, whereas the class of stable distributions includes parameters controlling both tail behavior and skewness. Simulations show that failing to account for kernel shape may lead to poor predictions from the model. For an illustration with real data, the IDE model with flexible kernels is applied to ozone pressure measurements collected biweekly by radiosonde at varying altitudes. The results obtained with the different kernel families are compared and it is confirmed that better model prediction may be achieved by electing to use a more flexible kernel.
Direct-form adaptive equalization using soft information

The problem of adapting the coefficients of a direct-form adaptive equalizer using soft information is investigated. An algorithm for the adaptation of equalizer coefficients when the transmitted symbol sequence is unknown at the receiver is derived. The resulting adaptation procedure also takes into account prior probabilities of the symbols, which may be available, for instance, in a turbo equalization setting. The starting point of the derivation is the expectation-maximization algorithm, which is then simplified into a purely recursive form with low complexity. An equalizer that uses the adaptation algorithm and a turbo system with this equalizer are derived, and the performance improvement afforded by these is demonstrated both by simulation and by tests with the data from the SPACE08 and KAM11 underwater acoustic communication experiments.
Intravenous, Intraperitoneal, and Subcutaneous Routes of Administering 64Cu-DOTA-HB22.7 Display Equivalent Tumor Targeting Ability.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) is initially effective, but often limited by toxicity and resistance. New agents for the treatment of NHL are needed. HB22.7 is a monoclonal antibody that binds CD22 and has previously been shown to reduce human lymphoma xenograft volume in nude mice. OBJECTIVES: (1) Develop a 64 Cu-DOTA-HB22.7 antibody, for in vivo imaging and potential therapy of NHL. (2) Determine if tumor targeting of 64 Cu-DOTA-HB22.7 is equivalent between intravenous (IV), intraperitoneal (IP), and subcutaneous (SQ) routes of administration. METHODS: DOTA-HB22.7’s ability to bind CD22+ cells was assessed by flow cytometry. 64 Cu-DOTA-HB22.7 was injected IV, IP, or SQ into xenograft-bearing nude mice and tumor targeting assessed by positron emission tomography (PET) and biodistribution assay. Pharmacokinetics were determined by measuring radioactivity of blood samples. Serum was analyzed by radio-TLC. RESULTS: DOTA conjugation does not affect HB22.7’s ability to bind CD22. 64 Cu-DOTA-HB22.7 demonstrates specific tumor targeting at 24 and 48 hrs. Targeting is equivalent regardless of route of administration. Pharmacokinetics demonstrate that 64 Cu-DOTA-HB22.7 can access the bloodstream (and thus, target tumor) in IP or SQ injections. By 48 hrs, blood 64 Cu levels are (a) equivalent, regardless of injection route and (b) below peak levels, indicating clearance from the circulation. Serum analysis shows that right-shifted TLC peaks, possibly 64 Cu-DOTA-HB22.7 metabolites, are present only in the IV injected group at 48 hrs. CONCLUSION: These findings establish 64 Cu-DOTA-HB22.7 as an NHL-specific imaging agent and indicate its potential for use in radioimmunotherapy. These findings provide evidence that more accessible routes of administration can achieve equivalent targeting results, and may lead to more efficient and accurate administration of antibody-based therapeutics in mice.
Biosolids management with net-zero CO2 emissions: a techno-ecological synergy design

Management of biosolids from industrial and municipal wastewater facilities presents multifaceted issues ranging from greenhouse gas emissions, high odor and high treatment costs. Until now, most studies that have focused on identifying the best treatment pathway are based on optimization of technological alternatives and life cycle analysis studies. Such studies aim toward sustainability but ignore the capacity of local ecological systems to provide ecosystem services, thus leading to design solutions that may be sub-optimal due to shifting of impacts outside the boundary, resulting in degradation. This work uses a techno-ecological synergy design methodology to identify optimal strategies for biosolids treatment and disposal, by balancing the supply and demand for carbon sequestration ecosystem service. Both the technological systems that create the ecosystem service demand and ecological systems that supply those services are included within one design framework. Technological alternatives for biosolids management in Central Ohio considered in this work are land filling, land application, incineration and composting. Approaches for supplying the carbon sequestration capacity include forestation, extension of timber cycles and geological sequestration. An additional case where biomass utilization from extension of timber cycle to produce renewable energy is also explored. Results from this study demonstrate that including carbon sequestration ecosystem service explicitly in the design problem leads to solutions where the ecosystem service demand and supply can be balanced, while also being cost-effective. Thus by including ecological systems in the design boundary, the optimal solution space expands to reveal novel solutions that cannot be found by the conventional techno-centric approach.
An Inventory and Engineering Assessment of Flared Gas and Liquid Waste Streams From Hydraulic Fracturing in the USA

In this study, we compile and curate data from 2012, 2013, and 2014 on flared gas and generated wastewater associated with hydraulic fracturing operations in seven major shale regions of the USA. In the process, we provide an historical perspective of the management practices of flared gas and wastewater prior to the decline in oil prices in 2015. An engineering assessment of the technical potential for repurposing the energy from flared gas for treating hydraulic fracturing wastewater is also considered. The seven shale regions were evaluated using mass balances and thermodynamic analysis of the wastewater and flared gas volumes using data compiled from state, federal, and private sources for each region. After curating the publicly available data, we determined that from 2012 through 2014, the Bakken, Marcellus, Utica, and Niobrara flared between 2 and 48 times the amount of natural gas needed to provide energy for treatment of the wastewater produced from the oil and gas industry. The Permian Basin, Eagle Ford, and Haynesville did not have sufficient flared gas to treat the wastewater produced in each respective region and thus would need other energy sources for water and wastewater treatment. The findings indicate that novel approaches to managing existing resources and waste streams might have the potential to improve the environmental footprint and economic productivity of select oil and gas sites.
Double-Parallel Monte Carlo for Bayesian analysis of big data

This paper proposes a simple, practical, and efficient MCMC algorithm for Bayesian analysis of big data. The proposed algorithm suggests to divide the big dataset into some smaller subsets and provides a simple method to aggregate the subset posteriors to approximate the full data posterior. To further speed up computation, the proposed algorithm employs the population stochastic approximation Monte Carlo algorithm, a parallel MCMC algorithm, to simulate from each subset posterior. Since this algorithm consists of two levels of parallel, data parallel and simulation parallel, it is coined as "Double-Parallel Monte Carlo." The validity of the proposed algorithm is justified mathematically and numerically.
The Conundrum of Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation for Epidermolysis Bullosa.

Epidermolysis bullosa is a heterogeneous group of heritable blistering disorders with considerable morbidity and mortality. Currently, there is no effective treatment or cure for epidermolysis bullosa, but bone marrow transplantation has been suggested to improve the clinical presentation and quality of life of some patients with the recessive dystrophic subtype of epidermolysis bullosa. In this issue, two studies (Hunefeld et al., and Egawa and Kabashima) address the issue whether bone marrow transplantation could be applied to patients with epidermolysis bullosa simplex with intraepidermal blistering. Utilizing a desmoglein-3 mouse model (Dsg3-/-) or keratin 5-specific reporter mice, the investigators show that transplanted bone marrow-derived cells migrate to the skin of bone marrow transplantation recipient mice, but these cells fail to transdifferentiate into epidermal keratinocytes, and there was no improvement in the clinical manifestations of the Dsg3-/- mice. Thus, further preclinical experimentation, possibly using mouse models that more faithfully recapitulate the epidermolysis bullosa simplex phenotype, is advisable before commencing clinical trials of bone marrow transplantation for epidermolysis bullosa simplex.
Abstract WP405: Age, Race, and Gender Disparities in Door to Needle Time: A Single Center Joint Commission Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center Experience

Introduction: Functional outcomes and quality of life are known benefits of Activase treatment in acute ischemic stroke (AIS), however, benefit is highly time dependent. Prior studies demonstrate t...
Integrated analytic simulation tools to support emergency management

This research effort is developing a computational framework to support federated models of complex urban systems and enable information support for planning and response in emergency management. Systems analysis has been advocated to support emergency management activities, and there are a number of individual domain models designed to represent various system elements. However, effective implementation of this approach has its challenges. Traditional system analysis is often performed at regional or country scales. Further, information collection tends to be reductionist in process focusing on mission before the operating environment. Thus, there is limited data available to support high resolution urban systems modeling beyond localized areas. However, dense urban environment complexity requires the ability to capture and integrate the interrelationships between subpopulations and infrastructural systems. This system of systems modeling approach supports the analysis of cascading effects through interdependent infrastructure networks and the anticipated impacts on the subpopulations it supports, such as ethnicity, social class, access to transportation, or previously available services. The results are expected to reduce analyst workload by generating geospatial products and systems perspectives of demographic and infrastructure characteristics. We will be presenting an integrated infrastructure system demonstrating the cascading effects of component failure(s) combined with the effects on neighborhood-scale populations. The results are delivered to end-users using a geospatial visualization tool that includes information about the quality of the data products and the ability of the data to support information critical to emergency planning and response.
THE HALF-LIFE OF THE METASTABLE LEVEL A3 ∑ OF THE NITROGEN MOLECULE*

The Einstein coefficient A of the metastable level A3∑ of the nitrogen molecule is measured in a de discharge by the concurrent determination of the number per second of quanta of the Vegard-Kaplan band emitted and the concentration of the metastable excited level. This concentration is derived from the strength of the absorption spectrum of the metastable level which consists of the first positive bands. The result is a half-life of about 0.9 second.
From Tadpole to TRF

My venture into the field of neuroendocrinology can be considered a prime example of phylogenetic “upper mobility.” I became a devoted student of the amphibian thyroid gland in my early graduate school days. Later, I climbed to the hypophysis to better understand thyroid function. Eventually, I reached the hypothalamus to gain a better vantage point from which to view the hypophysis. In any event, the experimental efforts of the writer on the mammalian hypothalamic-hypophysial-thyroid system cannot be realistically placed in historical perspective without a few prefatory remarks on the tadpole.
Abstract 472: Cardiac Fibroblasts Regulate Myocardial Proliferation and Ventricular Formation through {beta}1 Integrin Signaling

Ventricular cardiomyocyte proliferation is essential to support increasing hemodynamic demands during late cardiogenesis. The increase in thickness of the ventricle is achieved by greater proliferation in the compact myocardium than in the trabecular myocardium. Disruption of this process leads to a disease known as ventricular non-compaction. Although epicardial-derived signals may contribute to the proliferative process, the factors and cell types responsible for development of the compact layer are unclear. In particular, the function of embryonic cardiac fibroblasts, derivatives from epicardium, and their secreted factors are largely unknown. By analyzing cell markers, we found that cardiac fibroblasts appeared in the compact myocardium at embryonic day 12.5 and increased in number coincident with growth of the compact myocardium. Using a novel co-culture system, we found that embryonic cardiac fibroblasts were much more effective in inducing cardiomyocyte proliferation than adult cardiac fibroblasts. A genome-wide screen and siRNA knockdown experiments revealed that fibronectin and collagen were embryonic cardiac fibroblast-specific signals that promoted cardiomyocyte proliferation through β1 integrin signaling in primary culture. In vivo, cardiomyocyte expression of β1 integrin was upregulated as cardiac fibroblasts appeared in the heart and secreted extracellular matrix proteins. In agreement with a critical role for β1 integrin, cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of β1 integrin in mice resulted in reduced myocardial proliferation and ventricular compaction, with downregulation of cyclinD1 and cyclinE1 and upregulation of cyclinG2 and p21, leading to prenatal death. These findings demonstrate that cardiac fibroblasts regulate cardiomyocyte proliferation and ventricular compaction through extracellular matrix/β1 integrin signaling.
Further Approximation to the Distributions of Some Transformations to the Sample Correlation Coefficient

In this article the first eleven moments of r, are derived. They are used to examine the distributions of some of the familiar transformations of r under normal assumptions. Tables provided compare μ2 skewness (β1), and kurtosis (β2) with μ 2 * , β 1 * and β 2 * studied by Subrahmaniam and Gajjar (1980). These results provide further evidence of the usefulness of this work.
Darkness Now Visible: Patriarchy's Resurgence and Feminist Resistance

In the fall of 2016 those promoting patriarchal ideals saw their champion Donald Trump elected president of the United States and showed us how powerful patriarchy still is in American society and culture. Darkness Now Visible: Patriarchy's Resurgence and Feminist Resistance explains how patriarchy and its embrace of misogyny, racism, xenophobia, homophobia, and violence are starkly visible and must be recognized and resisted. Carol Gilligan and David A. J. Richards offer a bold and original thesis: that gender is the linchpin that holds in place the structures of unjust oppression through the codes of masculinity and femininity that subvert the capacity to resist injustice. Feminism is not an issue of women only, or a battle of women versus men - it is the key ethical movement of our age.
Trends and Racial Disparities of Late-Stage HIV Diagnosis: Hawaii, 2010-2016.

Objectives. To examine racial/ethnic disparities in Hawaii in stage 3 classification at HIV diagnosis and trends in such disparities from 2010 through 2016.Methods. We analyzed data including patie...
Correction to: The Role of Oxytocin in Early Life Adversity and Later Psychopathology: a Review of Preclinical and Clinical Studies

The original publication of this article is missing a disclosure statement for Dr. Amalia Londono Tobon.
Sensing sheets based on large area electronics for structural health monitoring of bridges

Damage characterization often requires direct sensing due to the localization of the anomalous behavior near the cracks. Direct sensing, however, is expensive because of the need to deploy a dense array of individual sensors. Sensing sheets based on Large Area Electronics (LAE) and Integrated Circuits (ICs) are a novel solution to this problem. Such sensing sheets could span several square meters, with a dense array of strain sensors embedded on a polyimide substrate along with the relevant electronics allowing for direct sensing while keeping the costs low. Current studies on LAE based sensing sheets are limited to laboratory experiments. This paper explores the question of suitability of the sensing sheets as a viable option for real-life SHM based on LAE and ICs. Results of laboratory experiments on an aluminum beam are provided to demonstrate the performance of sensing sheets in ideal conditions. Then, the sensing sheets are employed on a pedestrian bridge already equipped with fiber-optic sensors. The strain measurements from the sensing sheets and the fiber-optic sensors are compared and sources of differences are discussed.
Integrating a Space for Teacher Interaction into an Educative Curriculum: Design Principles and Teachers' Use of the iPlan Tool.

Implementation of reform curricula requires teachers to adopt new approaches to teaching. Research has provided promising results about the influence of educative curriculum on teachers’ learning a...
スズメノカタビラの微生物防除剤である Xanthomonas campestris pv. poae の土壌中での消長

Xanthomonas campestris pv. poae JT-P482株の抗生物質リファンピシン耐性突然変異株 (Rif-482株) を作出し, Rif-482株の土壌中での残留性およびその土壌微生物に対する影響を調査した. 埴土よりなるコウライ芝地と砂壌土よりなるコウライ芝地において野外試験を行い, それぞれの圃場の土壌を用いて容器内試験を行った. その結果, 滅菌した砂壌土中ではRif-482株はその菌数を維持することができず, 細菌懸濁液を添加直後には乾土1gあたり1.0×106コロニーフォーミングユニット (cfu) 以上存在した菌数が, 添加後3日目には検出限界 (乾土1gあたり1.0×103cfu) 近くまでその菌数を減少させた. また, 滅菌した埴土中ではRif-482株はその菌数を維持し, 細菌懸濁液を添加後21日目においても乾土1gあたり約1.0×106cfu の菌数を維持していた. しかし, 容器内の非滅菌土壌中および野外試験では土壌の種類に関わりなく, Rif-482株はその菌数を維持することができず, 添加後7日目には検出限界近くまでその菌数を減少させた. また, 野外試験実施中の土壌細菌数および土壌糸状菌数に顕著な変化は見られず, 対峙培養試験においても細菌および糸状菌に対する拮抗阻害活性は見られなかった. 以上の結果から, X. c. pv. poae は土壌微生物に対して影響を与える可能性は低く, 土壌中の他の微生物の影響により, 速やかにその土壌中における菌数を減少させることが示された.
Prehospital Supplemental Oxygen for Acute Stroke – a Retrospective Analysis

Abstract Objective Brief early administration of supplemental oxygen (sO2) to create hyperoxia may increase oxygenation to penumbral tissue and improve stroke outcomes. Hyperoxia may also result in respiratory compromise and vasoconstriction leading to worse outcomes. This study examines the effects of prehospital sO2 in stroke. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of adult acute stroke patients (aged ≥18 years) presenting via EMS to an academic Comprehensive Stroke Center between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2017. Demographic and clinical characteristics obtained from Get with the Guidelines-Stroke registry and subjects’ medical records were compared across three groups based on prehospital oxygen saturation and sO2 administration. Chi-square, ANOVA, and multivariate logistic regression were used to determine if sO2 status was associated with neurological outcomes or respiratory complications. Results 1352 eligible patients were identified. 62.7% (n = 848) did not receive sO2 (“controls”), 10.7% (n = 144) received sO2 due to hypoxia (“hypoxia”), and 26.6% (n = 360) received sO2 despite normoxia (“hyperoxia”). The groups represented a continuum from more severe deficits (hypoxia) to less severe deficits (controls): mean prehospital GCS (hypoxia -12, hyperoxia - 2, controls - 14 p ≤ 0.001), mean initial NIHSS (hypoxia - 15, hyperoxia - 13, controls - 8 p Conclusions Hyperoxic subjects had no significant increase in respiratory complications, nor did they differ in neurologic outcomes at discharge when controlling for confounders. While limited by the retrospective nature, this suggests brief, early sO2 for stroke may be safe to evaluate prospectively.
Defining the link between efflux pumps and biofilm formation

Biofilms are intrinsically important to our understanding of bacterial pathogens. The majority of bacterial life exists as part of a biofilm, as despite this, we have very little understanding of the genetic pathways that facilitate and drive biofilm formation. Work in our group has outlined a phenotypic link between efflux pump activity and biofilm formation, both of which have been implicated in decreased susceptibility to multiple antibiotics. Genetic or chemical inactivation of efflux results in a substantial decrease in biofilm formation. We have determined that this is due to transcriptional repression of one of the main components of the biofilm: the amyloid fibrous protein, curli. This relationship between efflux activity and biofilm formation has been identified in many Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial pathogens, but the regulatory network through which these phenotypes are linked is unknown. My PhD project aims to determine the pathway that links efflux pump activity and biofilm formation. I will investigate this using TraDIS, which is a large-scale transposon mutagenesis approach that will be used to determine all of the genes responsible for efflux activity and biofilm formation. My poster will present preliminary results from this genome-wide screen in E. coli. I will outline the further work to be undertaken, including repeating this experiment in Salmonella Typhimurium and formulating and testing hypotheses as to how efflux activity and biofilm formation are linked in both species. This will overall improve our understanding of important mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in human pathogens.
Abstract P475: Dementia and Heart Failure a Community Study

Background: The effective self-management of heart failure (HF) is highly dependent on cognitive function. Dementia frequently coexists with HF, but its exact prevalence and impact on health care u...
Deep learning methods for fingerprint-based indoor positioning: a review

Outdoor positioning systems based on the Global Navigation Satellite System have several shortcomings that have deemed their use for indoor positioning impractical. Location fingerprinting, which u...
Adjudicatory Jurisdiction and Public International Law: The Fourth Restatement's New Approach

Last year, the American Law Institute published its Fourth Restatement of the Foreign Relations Law of the United States. The Fourth Restatement broke with common understandings to find that international law does not constrain personal jurisdiction, except in the context of immunity. According to the Restatement's authors "an honest look at state practice and opinio juris today reveals no limits on jurisdiction to adjudicate outside the area of immunity." This paper--prepared for the 31st Sokol Colloquium at the University of Virginia School of Law--critiques the Fourth Restatement's new approach. First, it explains how it represents a break both from the ALI's prior understandings and from the view of most, although admittedly not all, international law scholars. Public international law imposes limits on states from exerting judicial power over another state's citizens with which the state has no genuine link or connection. While the precise contours of those limits may be amorphous, contrary to what the Fourth Restatement suggests public international law does not uniquely exempt state power exercised through judiciary in civil litigation from its purview. Second, it describes how the Fourth Restatement's approach to customary international law is premised on the controversial idea that states have unfettered authority absent a limiting customary rule. To reach the Fourth Restatement's conclusion, proof of widespread state practice and opinio juris supporting a customary rule authorizing universal civil jurisdiction would be required. But outside the human rights context, states do not except universal jurisdiction. It ends by describing why the Fourth Restatement's new position that public international no longer constrains state power over citizens with which the state has no connection is problematic.
Guaranteeing free and fair elections

Free and fair elections are recognised internationally as the central component of any democratic transition. This recognition of the need for periodic and genuine elections is included in international human rights instruments from the Universal Declaration on Human Rights to the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. However, as we move towards our first election based on universal suffrage in South Africa we must evaluate the function and status of elections in the process of building democracy.
Effects of albumin, transferrin and humic-like substances on iron-mediated OH radical formation in human lung fluids.

Abstract Inhalation of particulate matter is hypothesized to contribute to health effects by overproducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inducing oxidative stress. Fe(II) has been shown to contribute to ROS generation in acellular simulated lung fluids. Atmospheric humic-like substances (HULIS) have been shown to chelate Fe(II) and significantly enhance this ROS generation. Here, we investigate Fe(II)-mediated .OH generation from the iron active proteins in lung fluid, albumin and transferrin, and fulvic acid, a surrogate for HULIS, in human bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). We find that albumin enhances .OH generation from inorganic Fe(II) and that transferrin attenuates this enhancement. We estimate the rate constants for albumin-Fe(II) and fulvic acid-Fe(II) mediated O2.- reduction (1.9 ± 0.3) M−1 s−1 and (2.7 ± 0.3) M−1s−1 (pH = 5.5, T = 37 °C), 17–25 times the rate for free iron, which we measured to be (110 ± 20) × 10−3 M−1s−1, in agreement with the literature. .OH generation measured from fulvic acid-Fe(II) in BALF from 8 individuals with added fulvic acid is successfully predicted rates of .OH generation by mixtures of Fe(II), albumin, transferrin, fulvic acid, and ascorbate in saline solution. This indicates that fulvic acid enhances .OH formation in BALF, and that albumin and transferrin in BALF moderate the effect. We propose that fulvic acid, and thereby HULIS, is capable of mobilizing Fe(II) away from albumin and transferrin and this increases the formation rate of O2.- and ultimately of .OH. Furthermore, we find that albumin and transferrin have significantly different impacts on Fe(II)-mediated .OH than citrate, a common component of simulated lung fluids, a factor that should be considered carefully in the interpretation of results obtained from solutions containing citrate.