cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A palliative medicine program in a community setting: 12 points from the first 12 months:

This paper reports the first year’s experience of a consultative, interdisciplinary, integrated palliative medicine program in a community hospital system. Prospective data collection was performed on 308 consecutive consultations. A computer database was developed and used to analyze demographics, reason for consultation, complexity of medical problems, current medications and allergies, physical suffering, spiritual concerns, personal and family concerns, consult recommendations, and mortality. In addition, data were collected on patient rating of the severity of physical symptoms, pain, spiritual suffering, and personal and family suffering; this data also was analyzed using the database.Cancer was the most frequent diagnosis (34 percent) and pain the most common reason for consultation (43 percent). Population medians were identified as follows: five (range, 1 to 10) acute medical problems; three (range, 1 to 10) chronic medical problems; and one (range, 0 to 10) medication allergy/intolerance. Patien...
The J-Machine architecture and evaluation

The authors discuss the architecture of the J-Machine and evaluate the effectiveness of the mechanisms embodied in the message-driven processor (MDP). The J-Machine is a fine-grained distributed memory multicomputer that provides low-overhead mechanisms for general-purpose parallel computing. Each processing node consists of an MDP and 1 Mbyte of DRAM. The MDP microprocessor integrates communication, computation, and memory management functions in a single VLSI chip. A 512-node J-Machine is operational and is due to be expanded to 1024 nodes in January 1993. >
Immunoglobulins on the surface of thymus-derived cells engaged in the initiation of a humoral immune response.

Preculture treatment of normal spleen cells with antiserum against mouse kappa light chains and complement was found to inhibit in vitro responses of these cells to TNP and erythrocyte (carrier) antigens, primarily by elimination of a thymus-derived helper component required for the response. Spleen populations inactivated in this way could be reconstituted with irradiated, carrier-immune spleen cells or with carrier-educated thymus-derived spleen cells. The ability of helper populations (i.e. irradiated, carrier-immune spleen cells or carrier-educated thymus-derived spleen cells) to enhance the response of normal spleen cells to hapten was eliminated by pretreatment of the helper cells with anti-kappa serum and complement. No significant effect of anti-kappa and complement treatment on precursor cell populations in normal spleen or bone-marrow-derived spleen could be demonstrated. The data are interpreted as evidence for the presence of immunoglobulin components. The function of these molecules is not established but it would be reasonable to assume that they are involved in antigen recognition, on the surface of thymus-derived cells.
A 600MS/s, 5-bit pipelined analog-to-digital converter for serial-link applications

Design of a high-speed low-to-medium resolution analog-to-digital converter with closed-loop pipeline structure has been investigated. We demonstrate a single-path 600MS/s, 5-bit ADC. It is optimally designed to meet the requirements of a serial-link receiver. For high input-bandwidth, total input-capacitance is only 170fF. At high frequencies, to improve resolution beyond the amplifier-settling limit, the reference voltage of each pipeline-stage is digitally tuned. The chip is fabricated in 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS technology and consumes 70mW at 1.8V power-supply.
IDIOPATHIC RETROPERITONEAL FIBROSIS INVOLVING THE VAGINA: CASE REPORT.

A patient with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis involving the vagina and causing urinary symptoms is described. The condition responded satisfactorily to immunosuppressive drugs and steroid.
Network dimensioning for a multi-service integrated digital network with dynamic routing

With ISDN user part (ISUP) signalling, it will be possible to provide different services in the same transmission facility without dedicated partitioning. The paper considers a multi-service switched integrated digital network with dynamic routing where several services are offered. This type of network provides a viable platform for deploying new services in the ISDN era by taking advantage of the dynamic routing capabilities. The paper addresses the problem of network dimensioning for such a multi-service dynamic routing network and presents mathematical formulations of this problem. Exploiting the structure, it proposes a penalty-function based decomposition algorithm for solving this problem. >
Encroachments on State Sovereignty: The Argumentation Strategies of the George W. Bush Administration

As the world has increasingly embraced globalization, temptations to encroach on traditional boundaries of state sovereignty for reasons of self-interest mount. Argumentation studies provide an important lens for examining the public discourse used to justify such moves. This essay examines the Bush administration’s strategic use of the definitional processes of association and dissociation to build its public case for regime change in Afghanistan. After exploring how the Bush administration’s early rhetoric after 9/11 failed to actually provide the Taliban a choice to remain in power, the essay reveals three combinations of the terrorism/state relationship that functioned as an argument by definition to gain support for the US campaign to overthrow the regime.
Comparison of outcomes of tubularized incised plate hypospadias repair and circumcision: a questionnaire-based survey of parents and surgeon.

Abstract Aim We administered a standardized questionnaire to parents and operating surgeon to determine their opinions regarding outcomes from tubularized incised plate (TIP) hypospadias repair. Methods Likert scale questionnaires were used to assess six outcomes: overall penile appearance, cosmesis of meatus and skin, penile size, straightness during erection, and voided stream. These were answered by consecutive parents of boys 6 weeks following TIP hypospadias repair, as well as by the surgeon. Controls were normal boys 6 weeks after elective circumcision, with their parents and the surgeon answering the same questionnaires. Results There were no significant differences in responses between parents of boys undergoing TIP repair for distal (n = 50) to proximal (n = 15) hypospadias compared to parents of normal boys undergoing elective circumcision (n = 22). Surgeon impressions of cosmetic results were slightly, but significantly, more favorable than those of parents. Surgeon scores were higher for distal versus proximal hypospadias outcomes. Conclusions Our study provides objective evidence that parents consider TIP hypospadias repair to create a normally functioning and appearing penis. Parent and surgeon opinions of cosmetic outcomes were similar, although surgeon impressions were more favorable.
Microstructural origin of the perpendicular anisotropy in M-type barium hexaferrite thin films deposited by RF magnetron sputtering

Barium hexaferrite thin films deposited by RF magnetron sputtering have exhibited saturation magnetization 90% of that of bulk single crystals, whereas the perpendicular uniaxial anisotropy is only 60% of that of the bulk. X-ray diffraction spectra suggest good c-axis orientation perpendicular to the film plane. However, M-H hysteresis loops show a fairly large in-plane hysteresis. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy show that the films are made of a mixture of platelet-shaped grains and acicular grains. Microdiffraction studies in a transmission electron microscope indicate that the platelets have their c-axis oriented perpendicular to the plane and that the acicular grains have c-axis orientation in the plane. Preferential grain growth in the basal plane of the crystal is believed to be responsible for these grain geometries. >
Minerva: Learning to Infer Network Path Properties

Knowledge of the network path properties such as latency, hop count, loss and bandwidth is key to the performance of overlay networks, grids and P2P applications. Network operators also use these metrics for managing and diagnosing problems in their networks. However, the size of the Internet makes the task of measuring these metrics immensely difficult. A more scalable approach of inference and estimation of these metrics based on partial measurements has been recently adopted. Current inference approaches do not adapt to different network topologies and the evolution of the network over time. In this paper, we propose a novel learning based approach, called Minerva, for the inferencing of inter-node properties. Minerva uses partial measurements to create signature-like profiles for the participating nodes. These signatures are later used as input to a trained Bayesian network module to estimate the different network properties. We have built a system based on our approach and present performance results from real network measurements obtained from the Planet-Lab testbed. The sensitivity of the system to different parameters including training set, measurement overhead, and size of network have also been studied in this paper.
The effects of site response on source parameters deduced for the 1980 Long Valley, California earthquake sequence

Data taken from the University of Nevada (UNR) array of surface-located wideband, digital, displacement seismographs placed over the 1980 Long Valley earthquake sequence show very strong site effects, which control spectral parameters and hence inferred source parameters, up to ML 5.0. Observations from 4,000 seismograms show that differences in site effects can lead to inferred seismic moments at least a factor of two lower than previously reported. Observed S-wave spectral corner frequencies show upper-bound cutoffs which are widely disparate at different sites (e.g., 15 Hz at MG1 and 6 Hz at WT1), thus fmax is quite variable by site. This high- frequency cutoff, clearly a site effect at WT1, could be misinterpreted as an apparent departure from source similarity for seismic moments below 1021 dyn-cm. Estimates of seismic moment and source duration from the UNR ‘rock’ sites may be more accurate than those previously published, both because the UNR instrumentation has greater resolution at longer periods (0.1 to 1.0 Hz) and because of less near-site signal distortion at high frequencies.
A channel based asynchronous low power high performance standard-cell based sequential decoder implemented with QDI templates

This work presents the design of a channel-based asynchronous sequential decoder implemented with quasi-delay-insensitive templates. The Powermill/spl copy/ simulation results in TSMC 0.25 CMOS technology show that the circuit runs at 430MHz and consumes 32mW. Techniques to effectively partition and implement the top-level design, the implementation of fast shift registers, memories, and various other structures are discussed. Compared to a previously designed synchronous Fano decoder, the asynchronous version consumes 1/3 the power and runs at 2.15 times the speed assuming standard process normalization. The design also highlights the introduction of a standard-cell library and back-end design flow for asynchronous designs based on PCHB templates.
THE RESOLUTION OF MIXTURES OF VIABLE MAMMALIAN CELLS INTO HOMOGENEOUS FRACTIONS BY ZONAL CENTRIFUGATION

Large-scale separation of mixtures of mammalian cells was obtained with the A-1X zonal centrifuge rotor and density gradients consisting of Ficoll dissolved in modified Eagle's MEM suspension-culture medium. The cells remained viable as tested by plating efficiency or by motility observed with time-lapse photography. Rabbit thymocyte and HeLa cell mixtures were separated with 99 and 89 per cent purity, respectively. Mixtures of thymocytes and suspension-cultured, human acute leukemia cells (Roswell Park strain LKID) were separated with 93 and 91% purity, respectively. HeLa cells were isolated 92% pure from a mixture with horse leukocytes. A book of charts giving the sedimentation position and velocity versus time of cells in the A rotor under standard conditions of gradient composition, angular velocity, and temperature was prepared with the use of a computer program based on the differential sedimentation equation. The charts are used to estimate the centrifugation time necessary for maximum separation of cells. The success achieved in separating mixtures of cells points to the future possibility of large-scale fractionation of solid tissues, especially tumor tissues, into preparations cf viable cells of a single type.
The Invisible Foole

I review the classic skeptical challenges of Foole in Leviathan and the Lydian Shepherd in Republic against the prudential rationality of justice. Attempts to meet these challenges contribute to the reconciliation project (Kavka in Hobbesian moral and political theory, 1986) that tries to establish that morality is compatible with rational prudence. I present a new Invisible Foole challenge against the prudential rationality of justice. Like the Lydian Shepherd, the Invisible Foole can violate justice offensively (Kavka, Hobbesian moral and political theory, 1986; Law and Philosophy, 14:5–34, 1995) without harming his reputation for justice. And like the Foole, the Invisible Foole dismisses the possibility that being just preserves goods intrinsic to justice, and will be just only if he fears that others will punish his injustice by withholding the external goods like labor and material goods that he would otherwise receive for their performance in covenants. I argue that given a plausible folk-theorem interpretation, Hobbes’ response to the Foole’s challenge is inconclusive, and depends crucially upon common knowledge assumptions that may or may not obtain in actual societies. I present two analogous folk-theorem arguments in response to the Invisible Foole’s challenge, one using the idea that the Invisible Foole’s power of concealment might be transitory, and the other using the idea that members of society might stop performing in covenants with anyone, thus punishing the Invisible Foole indirectly, if the Invisible Foole commits sufficiently many injustices.
MOLT STRATEGIES AND AGE DIFFERENCES IN MIGRATION TIMING AMONG AUTUMN LANDBIRD MIGRANTS IN SOUTHWESTERN IDAHO

Abstract Intraspecific patterns of autumn migration timing are not well known, particularly in the western United States. Here, we (1) describe autumn migration timing and age ratios of landbird migrants in southwestern Idaho, (2) examine differences in timing among age and sex classes, and (3) demonstrate how prebasic molt strategies affect migration timing differences between age classes. As a group, Neotropical migrants were most common from late July through early September, whereas temperate migrants were most common from mid-September into early October. Proportion of hatch-year birds was 74.5% for all migrants combined and ranged from 33.3% to 100% for individual species. Timing differences between sex classes were detected in only a few species and no general patterns emerged. In 22 of 31 Neotropical and temperate migrants examined, there were significant differences in timing between adults and hatch-year birds. In species in which adults begin fall migration before replacing flight feathers, adu...
16PF items discriminating recidivists and long-term recovered polyaddicts.

Responses to 65 of the 187 items on Cattell's 16PF test were skewed by 83 members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Seventeen of those items had significantly different distributions when the 18 recidivists were compared to the 8 who had remained clean of all addictive substances and compulsive behaviors during the 2-year period studied. Another 14 items had significantly different distributions when the recidivists were compared to all the others. Comparisons with non-drug-disadvantaged groups and non-AA recovering addicts are suggested in order to isolate empirical predictor items for ‘addictive” versus ‘cured” scales.
Abstract T P315: Intra-Arterial Treatment: Long-Term Mortality and Effect of Hospitals

Objectives: To first describe long-term mortality in patients receiving any IA treatment for stroke compared to patients receiving IV thrombolysis. Second, given the wide variability in delivery of IA treatments, to test the hypotheses that long-term mortality after IA treatment would vary at the hospital level and that high volume hospitals would have lower mortality. Methods: All Medicare beneficiaries with a principal diagnosis of ischemic stroke (ICD-9 433.x1, 434.x1, 436) admitted via emergency department or transfer were identified using MEDPAR files from 2007-2010. IA procedures were identified using physician billing codes (CPT code 37184-6, 37201, 75896) via linked Medicare Carrier files. Long-term mortality was compared using Kaplan-Meier curves for patients receiving IA, IV or combined therapy. To estimate hospital variability in mortality after IA or combined therapy we used a multi-level logistic regression model adjusting for demographics, vascular risk factors and comorbidities with a rando...
Characterization of the Core and Caste-Specific Microbiota in the Termite, Reticulitermes flavipes

The hindgut of the termite Reticulitermes flavipes harbors a complex symbiotic community consisting of protists, bacteria, and archaea. These symbionts aid in the digestion of lignocellulose from the termite’s wood meal. Termite hindguts were sampled and the V4 hyper-variable region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced and analyzed from individual termites. The core microbiota of worker termites consisted of 69 OTUs at the 97% identity level, grouped into 16 taxa, and together accounted for 67.05% of the sequences from the bacterial community. The core was dominated by Treponema, which contained 36 different OTUs and accounted for ~32% of the sequences, which suggests Treponema spp have an important impact on the overall physiology in the hindgut. Bray-Curtis beta diversity metrics showed that hindgut samples from termites of the same colony were more similar to each other than to samples from other colonies despite possessing a core that accounted for the majority of the sequences. The specific tasks and dietary differences of the termite castes could have an effect on the composition of the microbial community. The hindgut microbiota of termites from the alate castes differed from the worker caste with significantly lower abundances of Treponema and Endomicrobia, which dominated the hindgut microbiota in workers and soldiers. Protist abundances were also quantified in the same samples using qPCR of the 18S rRNA gene. Parabasalia abundances dropped significantly in the winged alates and the Oxymonadida abundances dropped in both alate castes. These data suggest that the changes in diet or overall host physiology affected the protist and bacterial populations in the hindgut. The in-depth bacterial characterization and protist quantification in this study sheds light on the potential community dynamics within the R. flavipes hindgut and identified a large and complex core microbiota in termites obtained from multiple colonies and castes.
Generalized Frequency Domain Solution for a Hybrid Rigid Hub Timoshenko Beam Rotating Aerospace Structure

A hybrid system consisting of a rotating rigid hub and a flexible appendage following the Timoshenko beam assumptions where shear deformations are taken into account is introduced. Generalization of Lagrange’s equations utilizing Hamilton’s extended principle is used to derive the equations of motion and the boundary conditions of the system. Applying the Laplace transform to the integro-partial equations of motion leads to a generalized state space model for the frequency domain representation of the system. The beam sub-problem is then solved and utilized for insights for the solution of the full system. Boundary conditions at the beam free end are imposed to obtain the full solution for the state space model. The solution is used to generate transfer functions for both the rigid and the flexible modes of the system in terms of the input torque at the rigid rotating hub. No modal truncation errors are introduced into the transfer function calculations. Numerical results are presented for transfer functions frequency response using the generalized state space solution methodology.
Soft ionization chemical analysis of secondary organic aerosol from green leaf volatiles emitted by turf grass.

Globally, biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions contribute 90% of the overall VOC emissions. Green leaf volatiles (GLVs) are an important component of plant-derived BVOCs, including cis-3-hexenylacetate (CHA) and cis-3-hexen-1-ol (HXL), which are emitted by cut grass. In this study we describe secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from the ozonolysis of dominant GLVs, their mixtures and grass clippings. Near-infrared laser desorption/ionization aerosol mass spectrometry (NIR-LDI-AMS) was used for chemical analysis of the aerosol. The chemical profile of SOA generated from grass clippings was correlated with that from chemical standards of CHA and HXL. We found that SOA derived from HXL most closely approximated SOA from turf grass, in spite of the approximately 5× lower emission rate of HXL as compared to CHA. Ozonolysis of HXL results in formation of low volatility, higher molecular weight compounds, such as oligomers, and formation of ester-type linkages. This is in contrast to CHA, wh...
Abstract 478: Strategy to elicit antigen-specific CD8+ T cell -mediated immune responses against a cryptic CTL epitope of merkel cell polyomavirus large T antigen.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a relatively new addition to the expanding category of oncovirus-induced cancers. Although rare, the number of cases has risen dramatically in recent years. Furthermore, it is an extremely aggressive neoplasm that is correlated with poor patient prognosis. Exacerbating the situation is the limited availability of treatment options for advanced disease. The causative origin of MCC has been identified to be the merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). The MCPyV-encoded large T (LT) antigen is an oncoprotein that is a necessary part of virus-mediated tumorigenesis and therefore, is an excellent MCC antigen for the generation of antitumor immune response. Since LT is a foreign antigen that faces no issue of immune tolerance that normally hinders the induction of antitumor immunity, it is an excellent target for anti-MCC immunotherapy. The present by Savings Sidekick study determined that LT-encoding DNA vaccine can be modified to favor the generation of LT-specific CD8+ T cells by linking the LT antigen to a damage-associated molecular pattern, calreticulin (CRT). This is relevant since the therapeutic effect of the pcDNA3-CRT/LT DNA vaccine was found to be mediated by the LT-specific CD8+ T cells. Since we have identified the MHC class I-restricted immunodominant LT epitope, the development of future modes of immunotherapy, such as peptide-based vaccines and adoptive transfer of LT-specific CD8+ T cells is a real possibility. Citation Format: Bianca P. Gomez, Connie Wang, Raphael Viscidi, Shiwen Peng, Liangmei He, T.-C WU, Chein-Fu Hung. Strategy to elicit antigen-specific CD8+ T cell -mediated immune responses against a cryptic CTL epitope of merkel cell polyomavirus large T antigen. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 478. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-478
Effects of Acid Volatile Sulfides (AVS) from Na2S-Amended Sediment on Hyalella azteca

Ratios of acid volatile sulfides (AVS) and simultaneously extracted metals (SEM) have been used extensively for predicting bioavailability of divalent metals (i.e., Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn) in sediments of aquatic environments. However, the role of sulfides (as AVS) as a toxicant has been largely ignored. The aim of this research was to measure relationships of AVS (as sodium sulfide [Na2S]-amended sediment) and toxicity to a sensitive benthic amphipod Hyalella azteca to evaluate the exposure-response relationships among a series of sulfide exposures. The specific objectives were to (1) measure SEM/AVS ratios in a series of sodium sulfide (Na2S·9H2O)-amended sediments producing a range of sulfide concentrations and (2) measure responses of H. azteca (as mortality) in 96-h static sediment toxicity tests to exposures of Na2S-amended sediments. Amended sediments had a predictable increase in AVS concentrations and a concomitant decrease in ∑SEM/AVS ratios. Increasing concentrations of AVS resulted in a range of ∑SEM/AVS ratios that varied over more than an order of magnitude from 0.185 to 0.006. H. azteca survival decreased with increasing concentrations of “excess” AVS, with 96-h no observable effect concentration (NOEC) and LC50 of 0.041 and 0.019 ∑SEM/AVS, respectively. Clearly, the SEM/AVS model provides a useful tool for evaluating potential bioavailability of divalent metals and predicting ecological risk; however, this study demonstrates the need to consider sulfide (as AVS) as a potential source of toxicity in situations with low [<<1] ∑SEM/AVS ratios.
The writing culture of ordinary people in Europe, c. 1860–1920

The history of the common reader has received far more attention from scholars than that of the common writer. In this volume, Martyn Lyons, a noted contributor to the history of reading, now seeks...
Dissecting the parieto-frontal correlates of fluid intelligence: A comprehensive ALE meta-analysis study

Abstract Recent advances in cognitive neuroscience have shown how experience-independent cognitive abilities termed fluid intelligence (G f ) can predict academic achievement, longevity and resilience to neurodegeneration. Therefore, the understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings of G f becomes a crucial step for the implementation of cognitive rehabilitation as well as enhancement interventions. Here we present the result of a quantitative meta-analysis of available fMRI and PET literature about G f in humans, including (i) distinct maps for verbal and visuospatial stimuli, (ii) an analysis of brain regions contributing to processing of more complex stimuli as well as (iii) a model-driven distinction of processing stages occurring during G f -related problem solving. Results highlight the loading of G f components over functionally defined resting-state fMRI networks, with different degrees of overlap in both hemispheres and subcortical structures. A major role for nodes of the dorsal attention network during both verbal and visuospatial abstract reasoning tasks represents the most consistent correlate of G f , with additional contributions by regions of the anterior salience and left fronto-parietal control network. Increase in trial difficulty elicits a more pronounced engagement of the language and left fronto-parietal control networks, while inferring the rules subtending a given G f task relies on a different anatomo-functional substrate than producing novel solutions. Current findings might allow a clearer association between G f -related activity and brain connectivity, also providing quantitative ALE maps to be used in network-based brain stimulation and cognitive training interventions.
[F-18]-AV-1451 binding correlates with postmortem neurofibrillary tangle Braak staging.

[F-18]-AV-1451, a PET tracer specifically developed to detect brain neurofibrillary tau pathology, has the potential to facilitate accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), staging of brain tau burden and monitoring disease progression. Recent PET studies show that patients with mild cognitive impairment and AD dementia exhibit significantly higher in vivo [F-18]-AV-1451 retention than cognitively normal controls. Importantly, PET patterns of [F-18]-AV-1451 correlate well with disease severity and seem to match the predicted topographic Braak staging of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in AD, although this awaits confirmation. We studied the correlation of autoradiographic binding patterns of [F-18]-AV-1451 and the stereotypical spatiotemporal pattern of progression of NFTs using legacy postmortem brain samples representing different Braak NFT stages (I-VI). We performed [F-18]-AV-1451 phosphor-screen autoradiography and quantitative tau measurements (stereologically based NFT counts and biochemical analysis of tau pathology) in three brain regions (entorhinal cortex, superior temporal sulcus and visual cortex) in a total of 22 cases: low Braak (I–II, n = 6), intermediate Braak (III–IV, n = 7) and high Braak (V–VI, n = 9). Strong and selective [F-18]-AV-1451 binding was detected in all tangle-containing regions matching precisely the observed pattern of PHF-tau immunostaining across the different Braak stages. As expected, no signal was detected in the white matter or other non-tangle containing regions. Quantification of [F-18]-AV-1451 binding was very significantly correlated with the number of NFTs present in each brain region and with the total tau and phospho-tau content as reported by Western blot and ELISA. [F-18]-AV-1451 is a promising biomarker for in vivo quantification of brain tau burden in AD. Neuroimaging–pathologic studies conducted on postmortem material from individuals imaged while alive are now needed to confirm these observations.
Early-Life Gut Dysbiosis: A Driver of Later-Life Fibrosis?

Using a novel mouse model of scleroderma induced by immunization with topoisomerase-I peptide-loaded dendritic cells, Mehta et al. found that early-life antibiotic exposure resulted in increased later-life fibrosis in the skin and lungs. These observations advance the novel concept that gut microbiome alterations caused by early-life exposures may contribute to scleroderma pathogenesis, and warrant in-depth characterization and validation in complementary disease models.
Reconciling the Practice of Reason: Casuistry in a Christian Context

My assignment is to address the relation between moral theory and concrete moral judgments from the perspective of theological ethics. This would seem to be a straightforward enough task, so that I can get down to business rather quickly. But unfortunately, I must tell you that, before I can begin to analyze the ‘case’ I have provided, I need to make clear the status of the perspective from which I am working.
Comparative Biology of Aging: Insights from Long-Lived Rodent Species

Understanding the genetic and physiological constraints, which limit lifespan and modulate cancer resistance is a key aim of aging research. Observational studies have revealed remarkable differences in longevity, rates of aging and cancer resistance, even for closely related species, across the animal kingdom. This diversity enables comparative approaches for identifying novel mechanisms that regulate longevity and cancer resistance. This chapter focuses on how such comparative approaches, in the context of rodent biology, have leveraged classical molecular biological techniques and utilized high-throughput genomics and proteomics technologies to make profound insights into factors, which modulate longevity and cancer.
An Examination of High School Students' Online Engagement in Mathematics Problems.

This article examines high school students' engagement in a set of trigonometry problems. Students completed this task independently in an online environment with access to Internet search engines, online textbooks, and YouTube videos. The findings imply that students have the resourcefulness to solve procedure-based mathematics problems in an online environment without formal instruction. This article suggests that self-directed online learning could be more effective for solving procedure-based problems than multi-step problems. Moreover, to be successful in online learning environments, students may need training to improve keyword searching skill and their ability to utilize various online learning tools.
Capacities and Natures: An Exercise in Ontology

My task in writing a paper to accompany Milton Fisk’s complex and provocative one is unusually difficult. His argument is so condensed and at such a high level of abstraction that I could easily devote my entire discussion to a single paragraph of his, to his very first one for example. Instead of doing this, I thought it would be more helpful to say something about the historical background from which his essay derives, and then go on to raise some difficulties regarding his central claim that nature is something over and above part and property. I will end with some suggestions on my own part as to how the categories of capacity and nature might best be related.
Cytomegalovirus, BK, and Other Viral Infections of the Kidney

Viruses are relatively uncommon but important cause of renal infection. Viral pathogens such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), polyomaviruses (JC or BK virus), and adenoviruses are able to replicate in the kidney, and symptomatic infection with these agents can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised hosts such as renal allograft recipients. Of these, CMV is a particular problem in kidney transplant recipients and can result in temporary or irreversible renal dysfunction. CMV disease in immunocompromised patients is usually due to reactivation of the latent virus. Renal manifestation of CMV infection may include tubulointerstitial nephritis and glomerulopathy. Classic histologic findings in CMV nephritis include evidence of interstitial nephritis and characteristic “owl’s eyes” representing intracellular inclusions. Antiviral therapy is usually reserved for immunocompromised hosts.
Adult Development, Psychology of

During adulthood and old age there is evidence for both growth and decline in functioning. Theoretical perspectives on change in personality, the self, cognition, and social relationships are presented. An overview of research findings on the antecedents and consequences of stability and change in multiple realms illustrates the complexities and wide variability in the nature and course of adult development and aging. Future research will be aimed at understanding pathways to successful aging, and this work is likely to include an integration of psychosocial and biomedical perspectives.
Healthy Behaviors: The Role of Health Education and Physical Education

This article describes how health and physical educators can use the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model as a means of helping children and youth make good decisions regarding healthy behaviors.
Cxcl17-/- mice develop exacerbated disease in a T cell-dependent autoimmune model.

CXCL17 is a homeostatic chemokine in the mucosa known to chemoattract dendritic cells and macrophages but can also be expressed elsewhere under inflammatory conditions. Cxcl17-/- mice have lower numbers of macrophages or dendritic cells in mucosal tissues. CXCL17 is also able to chemoattract suppressor myeloid cells that can recruit regulatory T cells. To explore a possible role of Cxcl17 in T cells, we studied T cell populations from Cxcl17-/- or wild-type (WT) littermate mice. Cxcl17-/- mice have higher numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in spleen and lymph nodes (LNs). Upon activation, they produce higher levels of several proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Furthermore, a Cxcl17-/- mouse developed exacerbated disease in a T cell-dependent model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). By 18 days after immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte peptide, only 44% of Cxcl17-/- mice were still alive vs. 90% for WT mice. During EAE, Cxcl17-/- mice exhibited higher numbers of lymphoid and myeloid cells in spleen and LNs, whereas they had less myeloid cell infiltration in the CNS. Cxcl17-/- mice also had higher levels of some inflammatory cytokines in serum, suggesting that they may be involved in the poor survival of these mice. Abnormal T cell function may reflect altered myeloid cell migration, or it could be due to altered T cell development in the thymus. We conclude that CXCL17 is a novel factor regulating T cell homeostasis and function.
Morbidity During Adult Congenital Heart Surgery Admissions

The frequency of complications during Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) surgery admissions and their association to patient outcome is not well known. Our study objectives are to (1) define the frequency of complications during ACHD surgery admissions, (2) identify their risk factors, and (3) explore their association with death and resource use. We identified ACHD surgery admissions ages 18 to 49 during the years 2005–2009 from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. Complications were defined according to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Short List of Complications for congenital heart surgery. We identified 16,841 ACHD surgery admissions, of which 46.9% had at least one complication. Cardiac (19.4%), respiratory (18.2%), infectious (14.1%), and acute kidney injury (6.8%) were the most common. Admissions with a complication had a longer length of stay (10 days vs. 5 days; p < 0.001), increased charges ($139,522 vs. $84,672; p < 0.001), and higher mortality (4.6% vs. 0.9%; p < 0.001). Adjusted risk factors for complications included non-White race (AOR 1.17, p = 0.003), government insurance AOR 1.39, high surgical complexity RACHS-1 category 3 + AOR 1.81, non-elective admission OR 2.18, chronic kidney disease AOR 2.79, chronic liver disease AOR 2.47, and CHF AOR 1.40; all p < 0.001. Complications were independently associated with death AOR 2.49, p < 0.001. Complications occur frequently during ACHD surgery admissions and are associated with increased resource use and are a risk factor for death. Identification of preventable morbidity may improve the outcomes of these complex patients.
The Resurgence of Fascism in the Mid-Twenty First Century

The Europeans thought fascism was dead – an aberration of the twentieth century march to parliamentary democracy. Now, it has reappeared in France, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Turkey, and Russia. What are the causes for this resurgence of fascism? We focus on the immigration crisis, global capitalism and the outsourcing of working-class jobs, and the women’s movement, along with specific cultural orientations towards autocratic government.
Cerebral Aneurysm Wall Stress After Coiling Depends on Morphology and Coil Packing Density

Endovascular coil embolization is widely used to treat cerebral aneurysms as an alternative to surgical clipping. It involves filling the aneurysmal sac with metallic coils to promote the formation of a coil/thrombus mass (CTM) to protect the aneurysm wall from hemodynamic forces and prevents rupture. A significant number of aneurysms are incompletely coiled leading to aneurysm regrowth and/or recanalization. Porcine blood and platinum coils were used to construct an in-vitro CTM for uniaxial compression testing with coil packing densities (CPDs) of 10%, 20%, and 30%. Mechanical properties for each case were derived and used in finite element simulations of patient specific 3D reconstructions of aneurysms with simple or complex geometries. Reproducible stress/strain curves were obtained from compression testing of CTM and predicted by a polynomial mechanical response function. An exponential increase in the CTM stiffness was observed with increasing CPD. Elevated wall stresses were found throughout the aneurysm dome, neck, and parent artery in simulations of the aneurysms with no filling. Complete, 100% filling of the aneurysms with whole blood clot and CPDs of 10%, 20%, and 30% significantly reduced mean wall stress (MWS) in simple and complex geometry aneurysms. Sequential increases in CPD resulted in significantly greater increases in MWS in simple but not complex geometry aneurysms. These results provide a quantitative measure of the degree to which CPD impacts wall stress and suggest that complex aneurysmal geometries may be more resistant to coil embolization treatment.
Vibrational probe of the origin of singlet exciton fission in TIPS-pentacene solutions

We use native vibrational modes of the model singlet fission chromophore 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene (TIPS-Pn) to examine the origins of singlet fission in solution between molecules that are not tethered by a covalent linkage. We use the C—H stretch modes of TIPS side groups of TIPS-Pn to demonstrate that singlet fission does not occur by diffusive encounter of independent molecules in solution. Instead, TIPS-Pn molecules aggregate in solution through their TIPS side groups. This aggregation breaks the symmetry of the TIPS-Pn molecules and enables the formation of triplets to be probed through the formally symmetry forbidden symmetric alkyne stretch mode of the TIPS side groups. The alkyne stretch modes of TIPS-Pn are sensitive to the electronic excited states present during the singlet fission reaction and provide unique signatures of the formation of triplets following the initial separation of triplet pair intermediates. These findings highlight the opportunity to leverage structural information from vibrational modes to better understand intermolecular interactions that lead to singlet fission.
The interpretation of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion on anal cytology: a comparative analysis with the cervical Papanicolaou test.

Introduction Prior studies have shown that high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) tends to be underdiagnosed on anal cytology. Our study aims to decipher the interpretative challenges of HSIL that are more specific to anal cytology specimens by comparing them to cervical Papanicolaou tests. Materials and methods One hundred cases each of anal and cervical cytology specimens with HSIL interpretation and concordant histologic follow-up were retrieved and diagnostically confirmed. Patient demographic data were obtained from the electronic medical record. The cytologic specimens were reviewed and statistically compared in terms of proportion of HSIL cells, HSIL patterns and types, and cytoplasmic area of HSIL cells (with digital image analysis). A P value of Results Of the patients with anal HSIL, 97% were human immunodeficiency virus–positive and 60% were men who have sex with men. The anal cytology specimens significantly differed from the cervical ones in several respects: proportion of HSIL cells, cytoplasmic area of HSIL cells, cases with HSIL cells in syncytial groups (10 versus 57) and cases with keratinizing HSIL (45 versus 10). The P value was Conclusions Anal cytologic HSIL, in contrast to its cervical counterpart, exhibits fewer abnormal cells and smaller size of the diagnostic cells with a higher percentage of keratinizing lesions. A careful scrutiny of the sample with an enhanced understanding of the morphology and better sampling may help improve the detection of anal HSIL on cytology.
Homology Initialization for Protein Structure Determination via Distance Geometry

Abstract The problem of finding the configuration of points given partial information on pairwise inter-point distances, the Euclidean distance geometry problem, appears in multiple applications. In this paper, we propose an approach that integrates homology modeling and a nonconvex distance geometry algorithm for the protein structure determination problem. Preliminary numerical experiments show promising results.
Design of a tomographic projection lithography process for roll-to-roll fabrication of 3D microstructures

The rapid production of three-dimensional microstructures across areas of many square centimeters, such as in a roll-to-roll printing system, is needed for many applications such as microfluidic channels in diagnostic chips, filters with precisely controlled pore size, and surfaces with self-cleaning properties or structural color. Most current methods for transferring 3D microstructures to large substrates involve either multiple sequential deposition and imprinting steps with sacrificial materials to define voids, or lamination of a series of two-dimensionally patterned layers. These techniques have limited throughput and present significant layer-to-layer registration challenges. We introduce a design for an optical patterning system that has the potential to create 3D microstructures in a photopolymer film with a single patterning step on a roll-to-roll web. The technique builds on the process of Computed Axial Lithography that we have recently introduced. In the proposed technique, time-evolving, projected patterns of collimated light illuminate a photopolymer film on a web where it rotates around a backing cylinder. The rotational motion of the web allows each point in the film to be illuminated from many angles sequentially. During the rotation, therefore, a 3D light dose distribution can be synthesized tomographically, with the ability to define 3D polymerized structures which may include re-entrant and encapsulated features. Here, we describe computational modeling of the expected spatial resolution, geometrical fidelity, and patterning speed with this method for relevant photopolymer materials.
Alloying a single and a double perovskite: a Cu+/2+ mixed-valence layered halide perovskite with strong optical absorption

Introducing heterovalent cations at the octahedral sites of halide perovskites can substantially change their optoelectronic properties. Yet, in most cases, only small amounts of such metals can be incorporated as impurities into the three-dimensional lattice. Here, we exploit the greater structural flexibility of the two-dimensional (2D) perovskite framework to place three distinct stoichiometric cations in the octahedral sites. The new layered perovskites AI4[CuII(CuIInIII)0.5Cl8] (1, A = organic cation) may be derived from a CuI–InIII double perovskite by replacing half of the octahedral metal sites with Cu2+. Electron paramagnetic resonance and X-ray absorption spectroscopy confirm the presence of Cu2+ in 1. Crystallographic studies demonstrate that 1 represents an averaging of the CuI–InIII double perovskite and CuII single perovskite structures. However, whereas the highly insulating CuI–InIII and CuII perovskites are colorless and yellow, respectively, 1 is black, with substantially higher electronic conductivity than that of either endmember. We trace these emergent properties in 1 to intervalence charge transfer between the mixed-valence Cu centers. We further propose a tiling model to describe how the Cu+, Cu2+, and In3+ coordination spheres can pack most favorably into a 2D perovskite lattice, which explains the unusual 1 : 2 : 1 ratio of these cations found in 1. Magnetic susceptibility data of 1 further corroborate this packing model. The emergence of enhanced visible light absorption and electronic conductivity in 1 demonstrates the importance of devising strategies for increasing the compositional complexity of halide perovskites.
Tumor-associated neutrophils: orchestrating cancer pathobiology and therapeutic resistance.

Introduction Neutrophils or polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) account for a considerable portion of the tumor immune stroma. Emerging single-cell transcriptomic analyses have elucidated the striking cellular heterogeneity of PMNs during homeostasis and pathologic conditions and have established their diverse roles in cancer. PMNs have emerged as important players in cancer pathobiology and therapeutic resistance. Tumor associated neutrophil (TANs) effector functions influence tumor development and resistance or response to therapy. Areas covered This review focuses on PMN heterogeneity and functional diversity in the context of carcinogenesis. TANs, by activating diverse signaling pathways, contribute to cancer progression and resistance to therapies. Mechanisms by which TANs impact therapeutic resistance include alterations of the tumoral DNA damage response, angiogenesis, reactivation of cancer dormancy, enhancement of tumor cell proliferation/survival and immune evasion. Expert opinion With the emerging phenotypic and function heterogeneity of TANs, targeting specific TAN functions in developing tumors can lead to translatable therapeutic approaches and limit drug resistance. We propose that combining specific targeting of TAN activity with standard cancer therapy can help patients achieving a complete response and prevent cancer relapse.