cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mathematical and computational approaches in understanding the immunobiology of granulomatous diseases

Abstract A granuloma is a physical pathological structure that manifests when the host mounts an immune response to fend off pathogens/infections, immunological aberrations, irritants, inflammations and other foreign particles. It is an amalgamation of immune cells (lymphocytes, phagocytes (mostly macrophages and their derivatives) plasma cells, neutrophils and eosinophils), pathogens or foreign particles or irritants, fibroblasts, epithelioid cells and multi-nucleated giant cells. This well-organized dynamic structure form after an ingested pathogen or particle finds its way into tissues. The host will then mount a response to prevent the pathogen from replicating or the foreign particle from propagating inflammation. Multiple granulomas can form upon infection/invasion in a single host. The ensemble of these structures dictates the state of disease manifestation and end points, such as rapid, fulminant infections, chronic persistent states (both symptomatic and asymptomatic) or sterilization where the infection gets cleared and cure is established. Studying granuloma formation and how it shapes immune responses is an enigma, mainly because they develop at remote locations, which makes the acquisition of relevant biological readouts a nightmare. Therefore, researchers are resorting to the use of computational inference techniques as a gateway to gain more insights. Mathematical and computational modeling approaches have been used to elucidate the mechanisms driving granuloma formation, function of granulomas, and disease progression in these granulomatous diseases. However, the use of mathematical modeling to elaborately explain non-tuberculosis infections is still primal. The goals of this review are i) to review existing modeling studies describing the initiation, progression and development of different granulomatous diseases, and ii) to suggest how existing modeling approaches can be exploited to understand the immunobiology of granulomatous non-TB infections.
Justice as Lawfulness

What is the relationship between justice as an individual virtue and justice as an institutional virtue? The latter has been exhaustively explored by political philosophers, whereas the former remains underexplored in the literature on virtue ethics. This article defends the view that individual justice is logically prior to institutional justice, and argues that this view requires a conception of individual justice I call ‘justice as lawfulness’. The resulting view consists of three claims. First, just institutions are composed of the relations between just persons. Second, the just person has a disposition to act in accordance with the legal and social norms (collectively, the nomoi) of the existing political tradition. Third, departures from the nomoi require that the just person act with practical wisdom to reform the nomoi according to an implicit standard of justice in the political tradition.
Hybrid 3-D Localization for Visible Light Communication Systems

In this study, we investigate the hybrid utilization of angle-of-arrival (AOA) and received signal strength (RSS) information in visible light communication (VLC) systems for 3-D localization. We show that AOA-based localization method allows the receiver to locate itself via a least squares estimator by exploiting the directionality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). We then prove that when the RSS information is taken into account, the positioning accuracy of AOA-based localization can be improved further using a weighted least squares solution. On the other hand, when the radiation patterns of LEDs are explicitly considered in the estimation, RSS-based localization yields highly accurate results. In order to deal with the system of non-linear equations for RSS-based localization, we develop an analytical learning rule based on the Newton–Raphson method. The non-convex structure is addressed by initializing the learning rule based on 1) location estimates, and 2) a newly developed method, which we refer as a random report and cluster algorithm. As a benchmark, we also derive the analytical expression of the Cramer–Rao lower bound for RSS-based localization, which captures any deployment scenario positioning in 3-D geometry. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed solutions for a wide range of LED characteristics and orientations through extensive computer simulations.
An Emotionally Adaptive Framework for E-Learning Systems

The evolution of human-computer interaction has come to new and groundbreaking lengths. Computers are now gaining the ability to perceive human emotions, making this relationship even more revolutionary. Affective computing is a relatively new research area focusing on the integration of human emotions into computer systems. This paper focuses on affective computing in the area of e-learning. The main contribution of this paper is a proposed framework that incorporates human emotions into an adaptive e-learning system in which the system adapts to the users' emotions in order. Our hypothesis is that incorporating user's emotions creates a more personalized learning experience resulting in a higher quality of learning outcomes.
143 Economics of cool-season annuals or reduced labor supplementation systems for wintering cowcalf pairs

Cattle producers typically feed hay and supplement for a 90 to 120 day window to maintain cows during the winter in Alabama. A 75-day trial evaluated the use of three systems (n = 3 replications per system): 1) rotationally grazed-winter annuals (GWA) on a 14-day rotation, 2) free-choice whole cottonseed (WCS) and bermudagrass hay, or 3) 50% soybean hulls and 50% corn gluten feed (SH:CGF) fed on alternate days at up to 1% BW daily and free-choice bermudagrass hay. GWA had the greatest Total Cost Per Pair Per Day (TCPD) for the 75 day grazing system at $6.58, followed by WCS at $4.73 and SH:CGF at $4.86. Initial and final cow BCS was not different among treatments (P = 0.1558). Cow ADG was greater (P = 0.0370) on GWA than SH:CGF and WCS (0.9, 0.2, and 0.2 kg, respectively), and calf ADG followed a similar pattern (1.5, 1.2, and 1.1 kg/day for GWA, WCS, and SH:CGF, respectively). WCS and SH:CGF were static across trial when only days of trial are considered, but TCPPD decreased linearly (R=.9723) as days on grazing increase. GWA becomes the low cost feed option (with WCS and SH:CGF inputs remaining constant) if trial days were extended to 119 days. This project demonstrates that GWA produces greater animal performance than other project diets, but requires additional grazing days (>119) to be the least cost feeding option.
Blending insights from implementation science and the social sciences to mitigate inequities in screening for hereditary cancer syndromes

Genomic screening to identify people at high risk for adult-onset hereditary conditions has potential to improve population health. However, if not equitably accessible, genomics-informed screening programs will exacerbate existing health inequities or give rise to new ones. To realize the disease prevention potential of these screening tools, we need strategies to broaden their reach. We propose a conceptual framework that merges insights from implementation science and sociological research on health inequities. Our framework does three things: first, it broadens the arenas of action beyond those typically addressed in implementation science frameworks; second, it argues for recruiting more diverse partners to share the work of implementation and dissemination; and third, it shows how implementation activities can be coordinated more effectively among those partners. We use screening for hereditary breast and ovarian cancers (HBOC) as a case to illustrate how this enhanced framework could guide implementation science and distribute the benefits of genomic medicine more equitably. Although our example is specific to genomics, this approach is more broadly applicable to the field of implementation science. Coordinated action among multiple stakeholders could translate a host of new technologies from the bench to the trench without creating new inequities or exacerbating existing ones.
Chapter 10 – Design of Menus

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the design of menus. It describes the relative advantages and disadvantages of menus versus commands. Menus require that the user be able to understand or recognize the options, whereas commands require the user to learn and recall the command names and argument structure. Menus guide the user step by step, suggesting viable options and hiding inappropriate actions, whereas commands should be learned and cannot prevent the user from trying options in incorrect contexts. Commands are highly flexible, permitting the user to reorder the actions into procedures or descriptions never anticipated by the designer, whereas menus need to be organized into structures that can limit their flexibility. Commands require little screen space, whereas menus can be very demanding of space and might require the user to navigate through several panels. Because commands are faster and more powerful, but require more a priori knowledge and provide less guidance, commands should be better for experienced users, whereas menus should be easier for the beginner.
Chapter 27 – Blattodea: (Cockroaches)

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses Blattodea or cockroaches as pests, its effects on human health, and how can cockroaches be controlled. Cockroaches are referred to as generalized orthopteroid insects which classifies them with the true Orthoptera (crickets, katydids, grasshoppers, locusts), Phasmatodea (walking sticks), Mantodea (praying mantids), Plecoptera (stoneflies), Dermaptera (earwigs), Isoptera (termites), and a few other minor groups. There are 3,500 to 4,000 species of cockroaches that have been identified, which can be divided into five families: Cryptocercidae, Blattidae, Blattellidae, Blaberidae, and Polyphagidae. There are several reasons why some cockroaches are considered to be pests but the most important one is based on those species that invade people's homes and other buildings and become very numerous. The most important pest species is the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (Blattellidae). It has a worldwide distribution and can survive well in association with any human habitation that provides warmth, moisture, and food. Cockroaches harbor many species of pathogenic bacteria and other types of harmful organisms on or inside their bodies. There are several considerations that come into play in any discussion of cockroach control. The first is an understanding of how infestations arise. The most common method of control is the use of chemical poisons. Many kinds of insecticides can be used to kill cockroaches. They may be applied as aerosols, baits, dusts, granulars, as crack and crevice treatments, or in traps.
Mps1 promotes poleward chromosome movements in meiotic pro-metaphase

In prophase of meiosis I, homologous partner chromosomes pair and become connected by crossovers. Chiasmata, the connections formed between the partners enable the chromosome pair, called a bivalent to attach as a single unit to the spindle. When the meiosis I spindle forms, most bivalents are associated with a single spindle pole and go through a series of oscillations on the spindle attaching and detaching from microtubules until the partners of the bivalent are bi-oriented, that is, attached to microtubules from opposite sides of the spindle, and prepared to be segregated at anaphase I. The conserved, kinetochore-associated kinase, Mps1, is essential for the bivalents to be pulled by microtubules across the spindle. Here we explore the role of Mps1 in this process. In MPS1 mutants, kinetochores can attach to microtubules and, when they are pulled by microtubule de-polymerization, can move at normal speeds across the spindle. In MPS1 mutants, kinetochores often become locked-in-place on the pro-metaphase spindle and pro-metaphase kinetochore microtubules reduced turnover. Together the results suggest that Mps1 is necessary to promote depolymerization of kinetochore-microtubules during the bi-orientation process.
Virtual Laboratories in Undergraduate Science and Engineering Courses: a Systematic Review, 2009–2019

Current technology has the capacity for affording a virtual experience that challenges the notion of a teaching laboratory for undergraduate science and engineering students. Though the potential of virtual laboratories (V-Labs) has been extolled and investigated in a number of areas, this research has not been synthesized for the context of undergraduate science and engineering education. This study involved a systematic review and synthesis of 25 peer-reviewed empirical research papers published between 2009 and 2019 that focused on V-Labs. The results reveal a dearth of varied theoretical and methodological approaches where studies have principally been evaluative and narrowly focused on individual changes in content knowledge. The majority of studies fell within the general domain of science and involved a single 2D experience using software that was acquired from a range of outside vendors. The perspective largely assumed V-Labs to be a teaching approach, providing instruction without any human-to-human interaction. Positive outcomes were attributed, based more on novelty than design, to improved student motivation. Studies exploring individual experiences, the role of personal characteristics or environments that afforded social learning, including interactions with faculty or teaching assistants were noticeably missing.
Impact of a Stay-at-Home Order on Stroke Admission, Subtype, and Metrics during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: Our study aims to evaluate the impact of a stay-at-home order on stroke metrics during the 2019-novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: Data on baseline characteristics, stroke subtype, initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, the time between last known well (LKW) to emergency department (ED) arrival, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) administration, the involvement of large vessel occlusion (LVO), and whether mechanical thrombectomy (MT) was pursued in patients with acute stroke were extracted from 24 March to 23 April 2020 (the time period of a stay-at-home order was placed due to the COVID-19 pandemic as the study group) at a tertiary care hospital in West Michigan, USA, compared with data from 24 March to 23 April 2019 (control group). Results: Our study demonstrated a reduction in cases of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), although this did not reach statistical significance. However, there was an increase in hemorrhagic stroke (7.5% controls vs. 19.2% study group). The age of stroke patients was significantly younger during the period of the stay-at-home order compared to the control group. We identified a significant overall delay of ED arrivals from LKW in the study group. Additionally, an increased number of AIS patients with LVO in the study group (34.8%) was found compared to the control group (17.5%). A significantly increased number of patients received MT in the study group. Additionally, 11 patients were COVID-19 PCR-positive in the study group, 10 with AIS and only 1 with hemorrhagic stroke. Patients with COVID-19 had a high incidence of atrial fibrillation and hyperlipidemia. One AIS patient with COVID-19 rapidly developed cytotoxic edema with corresponding elevated inflammatory biomarkers. No statistical significance was noted when stroke subtype, LVO, and MT groups were compared. Conclusions: There was a trend of decreasing AIS admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic. There was also a significantly increased number of AIS patients with LVO who received MT, especially those with COVID-19. We conclude that cytokine storm resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection might play a role in AIS patients with COVID-19.
Recent Advances in Synthesis, Properties, and Applications of Metal Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals/Polymer Nanocomposites

Metal halide perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) have recently garnered tremendous research interest due to their unique optoelectronic properties and promising applications in photovoltaics and optoelectronics. Metal halide PNCs can be combined with polymers to create nanocomposites that carry an array of advantageous characteristics. The polymer matrix can bestow stability, stretchability, and solution-processability while the PNCs maintain their size-, shape- and composition-dependent optoelectronic properties. As such, these nanocomposites possess great promise for next-generation displays, lighting, sensing, biomedical technologies, and energy conversion. The recent advances in metal halide PNC/polymer nanocomposites are summarized here. First, a variety of synthetic strategies for crafting PNC/polymer nanocomposites are discussed. Second, their array of intriguing properties is examined. Third, the broad range of applications of PNC/polymer nanocomposites is highlighted, including light-emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, and scintillators. Finally, an outlook on future research directions and challenges in this rapidly evolving field are presented.
Internal public relations’ role with workplace, spirituality, and religion

Abstract This article argues that public relations ought to lead the integration of spirituality and religion in an organization’s workplace. Because no model of this opportunity exists for internal public relations (a.k.a. employee relations or internal communication), this article looks at scholarship about spirituality and religion in the workplace to show links among organizational performance, employee engagement, and public relations operations, particularly that focused on employees. From this research-based approach, guiding principles for public relations’ lead role in integrating spirituality and religion in an organization’s workplace and an operational framework for internal public relations are given so public relations professionals can make the integration reality and effective for all.
Multi-Contrast Imaging and Digital Refocusing on a Mobile Microscope with a Domed LED Array

We demonstrate the design and application of an add-on device for improving the diagnostic and research capabilities of CellScope—a low-cost, smartphone-based point-of-care microscope. We replace the single LED illumination of the original CellScope with a programmable domed LED array. By leveraging recent advances in computational illumination, this new device enables simultaneous multi-contrast imaging with brightfield, darkfield, and phase imaging modes. Further, we scan through illumination angles to capture lightfield datasets, which can be used to recover 3D intensity and phase images without any hardware changes. This digital refocusing procedure can be used for either 3D imaging or software-only focus correction, reducing the need for precise mechanical focusing during field experiments. All acquisition and processing is performed on the mobile phone and controlled through a smartphone application, making the computational microscope compact and portable. Using multiple samples and different objective magnifications, we demonstrate that the performance of our device is comparable to that of a commercial microscope. This unique device platform extends the field imaging capabilities of CellScope, opening up new clinical and research possibilities.
Voices from the margin: Minority writing in Germany

Dieser Aufsatz pladiert fur eine Erweiterung der Begriffsbestimmung bei der Bewertung deutschsprachiger Gegenwartsliteratur. Statt »deutsche Gegenwartsliteratur « wird der Begriff »Gegenwartsliteratur in Deutschland« vorgeschlagen. Damit wird angezeigt, das bei der Diskussion deutschsprachiger Texte auch Schriftsteller und Schriftstellerinnen zu berucksichtigen sind, die bislang an die Peripherie verwiesen wurden: Afro-Deutsche, Judische-Deutsche, sogenannte ethnisch Deutsche, Turkisch-Deutsche u. a. Damit seien Autoren einzubeziehen, deren Verhaltnis zur herrschenden Kultur ambivalent ist, deren Muttersprache nicht unbedingt Deutsch ist, die sich nicht nur oder primar als Deutsche definieren; dies werde der aktuellen Situation heterogener Literaturproduktion im heutigen Deutschland gerechter, fuhre zu einem Umdenken dessen, was »Deutsch« ist, und stelle den herkommlichen, uberholten Begriff einer nationalen Literatur in Frage. Eine Besprechung von Texten der afro-deutschen Schriftstellerinnen May Ayim und Ika Hugel-Marshall und der judisch-deutschen Schriftstellerinnen Ronnith Neumann, Barbara Honigmann, Esther Dischereit und Irene Dische soll die Bedeutung dieser oft ausgeklammerten Stimmen fur die Gegenwartsliteratur in Deutschland bestatigen. Abschliesend setzt sich die Autorin dieses Aufsatzes fur eine interkulturelle Interpretationsweise ein, die eine transnationale Literatur zur Sprache kommen liese und der Germanistik ermogliche, an einem internationalen kritischen Diskurs uber »emergent literatures« teilzunehmen.
Arbovirus plaquing in a clonal line (PS Y-15) of porcine kidney.

Plaque development of 42 arbovirus serotypes, representing 17 serogroups, was studied in a clonal line (PS Y-15) of porcine kidney. The arboviruses plaqued within 3 to 7 days, with plaque diameters ranging from 1 to 5 mm. Mouse mortality and cell infectivity end points were compared with 24 arboviruses. Arbovirus LD50 end points in mice exceeded the porcine kidney monolayer plaque-forming unitage end point with all 24 viruses compared.
Are all tastes constant and identical

Abstract George Stigler and Gary Becker have attempted to eliminate the concepts of changing preferences and varying preferences across individuals from economic theory. By postulating a household production function (HPF), Stigler and Becker reinterpret changing tastes as changes in the constraints used to produce utility from commodities. The postulated changes in the HPF, however, are no less arbitrary than assertions of changing or different preferences and add no explanatory power. Furthermore, problems of addiction, taste change, and weakness of will do not Fit the constant tastes praradigm very well. The Stigler-Becker approach also involves infinite regress problems. A change in the demand for X can be interpreted as an increase in X 's ability to produce Z , where Z is the true object of desire. But how are we to explain a change in the demand for Z ?
Efflux ratio cannot assess P-glycoprotein-mediated attenuation of absorptive transport: asymmetric effect of P-glycoprotein on absorptive and secretory transport across Caco-2 cell monolayers.

Purpose. The purpose of this work was to determine whether P-glycoprotein (P-gp) modulates absorptive and secretory transport equally across polarized epithelium (i.e., Caco-2 cell monolayers) for structurally diverse P-gp substrates, a requirement for the use of the efflux ratio to quantify P-gp-mediated attenuation of absorption across intestinal epithelium.
Transcriptional regulatory elements in the noncoding region of human papillomavirus type 6.

Abstract We have identified three elements in the noncoding region of human papillomavirus type 6 (HPV-6) that regulate transcription when assayed in recombinant plasmids containing the bacterial gene for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase. One was a silencer that reduced expression in both a species- and tissue-dependent manner. The second was an enhancer element that was tissue specific. The third was a weak promoter that showed some tissue specificity. These elements have been localized within the noncoding region by analysis of 5'-to-3' and 3'-to-5' deletions with two HPV-6 subtypes, HPV-6e and HPV-6g. HPV-6g differs from HPV-6e by the presence of an additional copy in tandem of a 136-base-pair (bp) sequence and by an 8-bp sequence containing a 3-bp deletion. Silencer activity, assayed in plasmids with the simian virus 40 minimum promoter which were transfected into NIH 3T3 cells, could not be overcome by the enhancer activity of the simian virus 40 72-bp repeats. The 413-bp fragment of A of HPV-6g showed silencer activity, while the corresponding HPV-6e fragment containing the 8-bp change did not. Enhancer activity of HPV-6g was localized to fragment C of 326 bp which contains the 136-bp repeat. Dot blot hybridizations reflected relative chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activities and demonstrated enhancer and silencer activities at the RNA level. Analysis of the interaction of these activities in naturally occurring variants should provide information on tissue specificity and regulation of gene expression of HPVs and may provide information on the mechanism of action of transcriptional regulatory elements in eucaryotic cells.
Implementation of Sensitivity Analysis for Automatic Parallelization

Sensitivity Analysis (SA) is a novel compiler technique that complements, and integrates with, static automatic parallelization analysis for the cases when program behavior is input sensitive. SA can extract all the input dependent, statically unavailable, conditions for which loops can be dynamically parallelized. SA generates a sequence of sufficient conditions which, when evaluated dynamically in order of their complexity, can each validate the dynamic parallel execution of the corresponding loop. While SA's principles are fairly simple, implementing it in a real compiler and obtaining good experimental results on benchmark codes is a difficult task. In this paper we present some of the most important implementation issues that we had to overcome in order to achieve a fairly successful automatic parallelizer. We present techniques related to validating dependence removing transformations, e.g., privatization or pushback parallelization, and static and dynamic evaluation of complex conditions for loop parallelization. We concern ourselves with multi-version and parallel code generation as well as the use of speculative parallelization when other, less costly options fail. We present a summary table of the contributions of our techniques to the successful parallelization of 22 industry benchmark codes. We also report speedups and parallel coverage of these codes on two multicore based systems and compare them to results obtained by the Ifort compiler.
Dichroic polyethylene terephthalate films based upon compounds containing dyestuffs

An experimental study of the dichroism of uniaxial and biaxial orientation of polyethylene terephthalate films containing dichroic dyestuffs is described. It is found that hydrophobic dyestuffs orient more and cause greater dichroism than do hydrophilic dyes. Dyestuffs which can induce dichroism in cellulosic films are not effective with PET films. The more anisotropic the hydrophobic dyestuff molecule, the more effective it is in inducing dichroism. At low stretch ratios, the dichroism (D 12−1)/(D 12+2) (whereD 12 isA 1/A2) increases linearly with birefringence, but at higher stretch ratios the rate of increase is slower. This may be attributed to crystallization and reduced orientations in the amorphous regions. Biaxial stretching generally lowersD 12.
Efficacy of Chlorpyrifos-Methyl for Control of Maize Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Red Flour Beetles (Tenebrionidae) in Mixtures of Treated and Untreated Corn

After 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mo of storage, corn treated at a calculated rate of 6 ppm chlorpyrifos-methyl was either mixed with or layered on the top surface of untreated corn. Before mixing at each storage interval, treated corn was analyzed for residue, and mixed samples were bioassayed by exposing maize weevils, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, and red flour beetles, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), to separate lots. As the percentage of treated corn in the mixtures increased, insect populations, damaged kernels, and dockage decreased. A ratio of 2:3 treated/untreated corn controlled maize weevils and red flour beetles for 6 and IO mo, respectively. The surface treatments were not as effective as the mixture treatments. Damaged kernels and dockage weights were strongly positively correlated with insect populations ( r = 0.88-0.99).
Miscibility, density and viscosity of polystyrene in n-hexane at high pressures

Abstract The demixing pressures, densities and viscosities of solutions of nearly monodisperse polystyrene samples ( M w / M n n -hexane have been determined. Measurements were conducted with samples of different molecular weights ( M w = 4000–50 000) at concentrations up to 8 mass% over a pressure range from 5 to 70 MPa and a temperature range from 323 to 423 K. The demixing pressures were observed to increase with molecular weight (from about 10 MPa for M w = 4000 to 50 MPa for M w = 50 000) and show high sensitivity to temperature (Δ P /Δ T being about −1 MPa°C −1 ) in the range investigated. Density and viscosity data were collected in the one-phase homogeneous regions, and viscosity was correlated with an equation of the form η = A exp{ B /(1 − V 0 ρ ), which is based on the free-volume considerations. For a given system, the viscosities increase with solution density (or pressure). At a fixed solution density, viscosity increases with polymer concentration or molecular weight. Depending upon the system, viscosities have ranged from 0.15 to 0.45 mPa s. Flow activation volumes and flow activation energies were about 40 cm 3 mol −1 and 6 kJ mol −1 , respectively. The demixing and viscosity data have been also compared with the results obtained in n -butane and n -pentane for one sample ( M w = 9000). In going from n -butane to n -hexane, the demixing pressures decrease while the viscosities become higher.
The Beginnings of Cultivation in the Midwest‐Riverine Area of the United States

Archaeology has become increasingly concerned with the interpretation of prehistoric subsistence settlement systems. In the area of the major river valleys south of the Great Lakes, a significant example of this concern has been the question of the role of cultivation in changing subsistence economies from the Late Archaic through Woodland periods. This article assembles all published (and unpublished) archaeological information on the remains of cultivated plants recovered from Woodland sites in the Midwest-Riverine area. It then reviews current hypotheses for the beginnings of cultivation in light of this evidence.
Effects of adaptation to apparent movement on recovery of structure from motion.

Past work on the recovery of three-dimensional structure from dynamic two-dimensional images has led to inconsistent conclusions regarding the contributions of the short-range and long-range motion processes. In the present experiments, subjects adapted to displays (either four lines or 50 randomly positioned pixels) whose spatiotemporal parameters were chosen to favor either the short-range or long-range process. Adaptation periods were followed by test displays that simulated the rotation of a four-pixel random object about the vertical gamma-axis. The dependent measure was the angle of rotation between successive frames of the rotation display at which percepts of three-dimensional structure broke down. Both the original data and derived measures based on best-fitting polynomials showed small but consistent effects: Compared to control conditions, adaptation to short-range motion reduced the angle at which percepts of structure broke down; adaptation to long-range motion increased them. It is suggested that both low-level (i.e. short-range) and high-level (long-range) processes contribute to the recovery of structure from motion.
Heat Treatments of ZnSe Starting Materials for Physical Vapor Transport

The effect of different heat treatments on stoichiometry and residual gas pressure in ZnSe physical vapor transport system was investigated. The dependence of the amount and composition of the residual gas on various heat treatment procedures is reported. Heat treatment of ZnSe starting materials by baking under the condition of dynamic vacuum to adjust its stoichiometry was performed and the effectiveness of the treatment was confirmed by the measurements of the partial pressure of Se2, P(sub Se2), in equilibrium with the heat treated samples. Optimum heat treatment procedures on the ZnSe starting material for the physical vapor transport process are discussed and verified experimentally.
Ship performance monitoring and analysis to improve fuel efficiency

A pilot project was launched to monitor vessel performance and to explore ways to reduce fuel consumption. A prototype Vessel Performance Monitoring and Analysis System (VPMAS) was used to collect information over a three week period. The project objective was to collect needed data, conduct preliminary analysis to establish trends, explore key performance indicators (KPI) to establish baseline, and explore data products for performance management. Performance management includes improving vessel performance and supporting efficient operation to reduce fuel consumption. For the pilot project, only a subset of vessel performance data was collected. Current key performance indicators (KPIs) include fuel consumption per trip, fuel consumption per distance travelled, fuel consumption per displacement distance and fuel consumption per payload distance. The dataset will expand in the future and will include the effect of environmental conditions. Preliminary analysis includes comparing the normal route for calm sea states and irregular routes taken probably to avoid heavy sea states; assessing the maneuvers in and out of harbors, computing key performance indicators, assessing the data trends and general statistics, and identifying data products to support performance management. Initial results show that automatic fuel measurement was in good agreement with manual tank sounding. A voyage on an irregular route consumed almost twice the amount of fuel consumed in a normal route. Fuel consumption would be reduced if constant speed is used in open water and if deviations from the desired routes could be minimized, for example, through optimized autopilot.
Enhanced Slow Inactivation by V445M: A Sodium Channel Mutation Associated with Myotonia

Over 20 different missense mutations in the alpha subunit of the adult skeletal muscle Na channel have been identified in families with either myotonia (muscle stiffness) or periodic paralysis, or both. The V445M mutation was recently found in a family with myotonia but no weakness. This mutation in transmembrane segment IS6 is novel because no other disease-associated mutations are in domain I. Na currents were recorded from V445M and wild-type channels transiently expressed in human embryonic kidney cells. In common with other myotonic mutants studied to date, fast gating behavior was altered by V445M in a manner predicted to increase excitability: an impairment of fast inactivation increased the persistent Na current at 10 ms and activation had a hyperpolarized shift (4 mV). In contrast, slow inactivation was enhanced by V445M due to both a slower recovery (10 mV left shift in beta(V)) and an accelerated entry rate (1.6-fold). Our results provide additional evidence that IS6 is crucial for slow inactivation and show that enhanced slow inactivation cannot prevent myotonia, whereas previous studies have shown that disrupted slow inactivation predisposes to episodic paralysis.
SU‐FF‐T‐514: Unified Dose Tolerance Limits for SBRT

Purpose: To unify and consolidate the stereotactic body radiation therapy(SBRT)dose tolerance limits from various authors into a more usable format. Methods and Materials: A thorough literature review uncovered 375 dose tolerance limits for anatomical critical structures throughout the body, applicable to SBRTtreatments employing one to five fractionated sessions. The dose tolerance limits vary significantly among authors. Some authors present limits in terms of cubic centimeters while others are in terms of percentage volume, and the doses and volumes specified vary greatly. We propose a unified format that specifies dose limits to several salient volumes that are the same for all critical structures within each classification. We also developed a DVH Evaluator software tool that helps manage various dose tolerance limits and helps evaluate the DVH for clinical use. Results: The format of unified dose tolerance tables are proposed and several sample critical structures are presented. Further work with radiobiology and DVH analysis will be required to fill in the remaining gaps for all the relevant critical structures. Conclusion: This work represents significant progress towards unifying the dose tolerance limits for SBRT, but much more work is needed. We recommend formation of AAPM and ASTRO task groups to thoroughly address this issue from both physics and physician perspectives.
Marginal gap formation in the composite resin/glass ionomer cement Class V restoration

The purpose of this study was to assess marginal gap formation in Class V restorations using 2 dentin bonding agents (DBA) and 7 different cavity filling methods. Two glass ionomer cements (GIC) were used: Ketac-Bond (KB) and Ketac-Fil (KF). Class V cavities were prepared, one-half in enamel and one-half in dentin, in extracted human teeth. There were 2 control (no GIC used) and 12 experimental groups with 10 restortions each. Seven groups were evaluated with Scotchbond Lightcure (S) and 7 with Prisma Universal Bond (P). For each DBA the KB was applied as a 0.5 mm layer in 2 of the groups. In one of these the cement was etched with 35% H3PO4 for 30 s. For each DBA the KF was applied either in bulk, leaving the margins exposed (2 groups), or the cavities were filled, and then cut back after 24 h, exposing the margins (2 groups). The KF was etched in 2 of these 4 groups with 35% H3PO4 for 30 s. In all cases the enamel was beveled and etched. All cavities were filled with Silux. Basic fuchsin dye was used to detect marginal gaps. Each restoration was photographed, traced, and scored for marginal gaps as 0 or 1 at 5 enamel and 5 dentin locations. Gaps were present in 6.6% of all enamel locations and in 92% of all dentin locations. The effect of methods and DBA on marginal leakage at the enamel and dentin locations was assessed by two-way analysis of variance. There were significant differences between methods for enamel (p<0.01) and for dentin (p<0.005). The leakage scores for S were significantly greater than P in enamel (p<0.005) and in dentin (p<0.025). Although there were statistically significant differences among methods and between DBA, these differences are considered to be of little or no clinical significance because there were so few enamel marginal gaps while dentin marginal gaps were present in almost all the cases.
Motor Neurons of the Indirect Flight Muscles of Dysdercus fulvoniger

The indirect flight muscles of D. fulvoniger (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae) consist of paired dorsal longitudinal, dorsal oblique, and dorsoventral muscles. These are innervated by branches of nerves coming from the mesothoracic component of the pterothoracic ganglion. Five motor neurons are associated with each dorsal longitudinal muscle; the somata of 4 of these are ipsilateral in the prothoracic ganglion and one is contralateral in the mesothoracic region of the pterothoracic ganglion. The somata of the 3 motor neurons of the dorsal oblique muscle are ipsilateral in the prothoracic ganglion. Each dorsoventral muscle is apparently innervated by 2 neurons and their somata are ipsilateral in the mesothoracic ganglionic region. In addition, a dorsal unpaired median neuron in the pterothoracic ganglion is associated with the dorsal longitudinal muscle, but its function is unknown. There are no conspicuous changes in the appearance of the flight motor neurons following the histolysis of the flight muscles.
Ecological validity and 'white room effects': The interaction of cognitive and cultural models in the pragmatic analysis of elicited narratives from children

Controlled elicitation of linguistic and psycholinguistic experimental data facilitate strong inferences about phonological, syntactic, semantic and pragmatic structures and functions, yet neglect the ecological validity of responses. Ecological validity in this paper refers to whether data gathered under controlled conditions are commensurate with routine problem solving and language use in natural settings. All methods produce "white room" effects that compromise data gathering and analysis. Unexamined folk knowledge and experiences also guide the investigator s interpretation of data from field research, laboratories, testing sessions, and target sentences. Story recall data from children in a combined second-third grade classroom and their narrative responses to cartoons without sound are used to illustrate ecological validity issues. The child's spontaneous, imaginative narratives about the story and cartoons resemble adult folk theory, and their semantic content reveal sociocultural knowledge essential for understanding subjects ' reasoning and information processing skills.
Impulse Noise Performance Bounds for Binary Correlation Receivers

A general performance equation is derived for digital receivers in the presence of impulse noise. Two bounding techniques are employed to simplify the results. First, the Schwarz inequality removes the dependence on both the impulse noise waveforms and the signal-set basis functions. Second, the Chebyshev inequality is applied to the Schwarz results to additionally eliminate the statistical dependence on the probability density function of the noise waveform weighting factor. The bound curves are compared to specific theoretical results where the noise waveforms and probability density functions have been assumed. The tightness of the bound curves is a function of the signal-energy-to-noise-weighting-factor variance ratio and converges for the Schwarz bound as the ratio increases. Considerably looser bounds are obtained by the Chebyshev technique, but rough estimates of system performance can be obtained when the signalenergy-to-signal-energy-to-noise-variance ratio is the only known parameter.
TV Drama in China

Ying Zhu, Michael Keane, & Ruoyun Bai, Hong Kong, Hong Kong University Press, 2008, US$27.95 (soft), 275 pp. This highly readable and timely collection explores Chinese TV drama, which is the “numb...
130 Apligraf Heals a Recalcitrant Pressure Ulcer of 28 Years Duration

Background: Apligraf, a bioengineered living skin construct, has been shown to accelerate the healing of venous leg and diabetic foot ulcerations. It appears to function as cell-based therapy (e.g., delivering growth factors), rather than as a true graft. Given this mechanism of action, its use could be expanded to areas in which traditional skin grafting is not routinely employed. Methods: A 64-year-old wheel-chairbound Caucasian male presented to the wound clinic with a grade III left trochanteric pressure ulcer which had been present since 1976. He had been seen by numerous physicians and treated with debridement, topical antimicrobials, negative pressure therapy, growth factors, and a variety of dressings. We spent several months preparing the wound bed: maintaining adequate moisture balance, performing serial debridement, utilizing offloading surfaces and reducing the bacterial burden. His nutritional status was optimized. The wound bed developed a healthy granulating base but failed to close. Results: A single unit of Apligraf was meshed at a 1:1.5 ratio and applied to the wound. It was fixed in place using a nonstick silicone dressing, foam, and a self-adhesive covering. The dressing was changed weekly in the wound clinic. The initial response was a decrease in wound depth followed by steady epithelialization. Complete closure occurred 17 weeks after grafting. The wound has not recurred. Conclusion: This single case study suggests that bilayered cell therapy may have application in difficult wounds, such as pressure ulcerations. Further study into the efficacy of Apligraf in pressure ulcerations is ongoing.
CO(2) Diffusion in Polar Ice: Observations from Naturally Formed CO(2) Spikes in the Siple Dome (Antarctica) Ice Core

This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by the International Glaciological Society and can be found at: http://www.igsoc.org/journal/.
Immunoglobulin G concentrations in the sera of Herdwick sheep with natural scrapie.

Abstract Studies have been made of a flock of Herdwick sheep, genetically selected for susceptibility to experimental infection with scrapie, in which an extensive outbreak of the natural disease has occurred. One hundred and fifteen sheep in 3 lamb crops (1974, 1975 and 1976) were bled at approximately 6 monthly intervals and measurements made of the concentration of IgG in serum. Sixty-seven of these sheep developed natural scrapie at 21 to 28 months of age. Between 41 and 88 per cent of the scrapie cases (depending on the lamb crop) had greatly increased concentrations of IgG in the clinical stage of the disease. On average, the increases were about 70 to 90 per cent above the concentrations of IgG found in normal and scrapie sheep of 2 to 18 months of age. The significance of these changes is not known but it is suggested that they may be associated with the deposition of cerebral amyloid which is known to be a feature of some experimental models of scrapie in mice.
Mechanisms of Disease: HCV-induced liver injury.

The authors of this Review provide an overview of the mechanisms by which HCV is currently understood and postulated to govern liver injury. These mechanisms include the regulation of apoptosis, steatosis, activation of hepatic stellate cells, and the cytotoxic lymphocyte response. HCV persistently infects the majority of patients exposed to it and can cause irreversible fibrosis, leading to the onerous clinical sequelae of cirrhosis. In this Review, we discuss the direct effects of HCV on hepatocytes and the role of the immune system in liver damage. HCV, like many viruses, has developed methods by which to subvert host innate and adaptive immune responses to infection. HCV proteins seem to modulate apoptosis and steatosis, ultimately leading to hepatic stellate cell activation, fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition, HCV manipulates the immune system, disrupting both innate and adaptive immunity to establish persistent infection. The immune system initially attempts to eradicate the virus, but, in the setting of chronic infection, probably promotes hepatocyte damage and fibrosis through direct cellular toxicity and the release of inflammatory cytokines. Multiple types of cytotoxic lymphocytes, comprising the unique immune hepatic microenvironment, are likely to be important in the pathogenesis of HCV-induced liver damage. The net liver damage from HCV infection depends on the balance between the host's antiviral mechanisms and the virus' ability to subvert them.
GRAND3 -- Ground structure based topology optimization for arbitrary 3D domains using MATLAB

Since its introduction, the ground structure method has been used in the derivation of closed---form analytical solutions for optimal structures, as well as providing information on the optimal load---paths. Despite its long history, the method has seen little use in three---dimensional problems or in problems with non---orthogonal domains, mainly due to computational implementation difficulties. This work presents a methodology for ground structure based topology optimization in arbitrary three---dimensional (3D) domains. The proposed approach is able to address concave domains and with the possibility of holes. In addition, an easy---to---use implementation of the proposed algorithm for the optimization of least---weight trusses is described in detail. The method is verified against three---dimensional closed---form solutions available in the literature. By means of examples, various features of the 3D ground structure approach are assessed, including the ability of the method to provide solutions with different levels of detail. The source code for a MATLAB implementation of the method, named GRAND3 -- GRound structure ANalysis and Design in 3D, is available in the (electronic) Supplementary Material accompanying this publication.