cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling and simulation of cellular transport mechanism as a game

Exploring games and education is inherently controversial. Games are typically associated with play and it is not considered for education. However the notion of using games for learning causes some to cringe, others to leap for joy, and many to ask questions about this learning medium. Virtual worlds, especially Second Life, play an increasingly important role in the development of innovative and effective teaching and learning strategies. A cell is a highly complex factory that organizes thousands of different molecules to perform specialized functions. However it is always a challenge to teach students how small hydrophobic molecules, ions, water and large polar molecules enter or exit the cell. To overcome this challenge we used Second Life as modeling tool and platform to model, simulate and create a semi-permeable cell membrane that would enable students to select a molecule that they want to be and find how they could enter the cell. There are many animations and digital movies that show diffusion, osmosis and active transportation across cellular membrane. However there is no 3-D virtual cell that would allow the user to enter the cell and observe the arrangements and organization of organelles, to find a way of entering the cell. This paper will discuss how objects were created, textures were mapped and video streams were implemented to enhance learning process.
Probabilistic Theory for Topological Approximation and Copositive Matrix

This thesis is a collection of the main work I did during my graduate study on copositive matrix and homology computation. For copositive matrix defined on polyhedron, I define its extension and give a sufficient condition for the existence for its copositive extension. For standard higher dimensional copositive matrix, I generalize the algorithm given by Anderson et al., for determining the copositivity of a square matrix by classifying the structure of a polyhedron. For homology computation, I establish the algorithm for computing the homology group of a manifold from the sampling point data. I provide the general theory and give a probabilistic asymptotic analysis on the correctness of the computation.
Molecular structure of Al0.916Cr0.084(acac)3

The molecular structure of a solid solution of Al(acac)3 and Cr(acac)3 has been determined. The Al:Cr ratio as determined by refinement of occupancy and anisotropic displacement parameters was determined to be 91.6:8.4%. The unit cell parameters for Al0.916Cr0.084(acac)3 are smaller and the M-O distances are intermediate compared to those in the pure compounds, Crystal data: monoclinic, P21/c, a = 13.989(3), b = 7.539(2), c = 16.307(3) A, β = 98.82(3)°, V = 1699.6(6), Z = 4.
Routine Stenting of Extravesical Ureteroneocystostomy in Kidney Transplantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Abstract Background Although rare, major urologic complications (MUC) in kidney transplantation can cause significant morbidity, increased cost, and may even lead to graft loss. Ureteric stents are routinely used to prevent MUC, although complications related to their use have been reported. Here, we systematically reviewed the role of routine stenting in preventing MUC in kidney transplantation with extravesical ureteric implantation and performed a meta-analysis of 6 randomized controlled trials. Methods A PubMed search was performed for studies on MUC and stents in kidney transplant recipients. Randomized controlled trials were shortlisted for the review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. RevMan 5 was used for statistical analysis, and outcome analysis was done with Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test using random effect model. Results Six trials meeting the criteria were identified. Although stent use did not decrease the incidence of urinary leak (odds ratio [OR], 0.39; 95% CI, 0.14–1.11; P = .08) or obstruction (OR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.13–1.24; P = .11), it was associated with a higher incidence of urinary tract infection (OR, 3.59; 95% CI, 1.33–9.75; P = .01). Conclusion In the present era of extravesical ureterovesical anastomosis, routine stenting has a limited role in decreasing major urologic complications and may be associated with higher incidence of urinary tract infections.
An integrated workflow to identify targetable mutations in FFPE samples of HNSCC.

e17517Background: Although comprehensive sequencing technologies such as RNA-Seq are promising they have been difficult to implement in standard clinical diagnostic workflows. With this in mind, we...
Inching toward a Greater Understanding of Genetic Hypercalciuria: The Role of Claudins

Nephrolithiasis is both common (affecting up to 10% of the Western population over a lifetime) ([1][1]) and ancient (first reported over 2000 years ago in Egypt) ([2][2]). Not only do stones cause great pain and morbidity, but their treatment also results in significant burden to the health care
The inheritance of apetalous flower type in Petunia hybrida Vilm. and linkage tests with the genes for flower doubleness and grandiflora characters and its use in hybrid seed production

Genetic analysis of a mutant flower form in petunia in which the normal corolla tube was replaced by a second set of sepals (apetalous condition) was studied in F1, F2, F3 and BC1 generations after crossing with inbred normal flowered lines. Segregation patterns observed in these generations indicated that this mutant flower type was a monogenic recessive trait. The genes D for flower doubleness and G for grandiflora plant and flower character segregated independent of the apetalous character. The gene for apetalous flower character has been designated as apt.
World Health Organization-defined eosinophilic disorders: 2017 update on diagnosis, risk stratification, and management.

Disease overview The eosinophilias encompass a broad range of nonhematologic (secondary or reactive) and hematologic (primary, clonal) disorders with potential for end-organ damage. Diagnosis Hypereosinophilia has generally been defined as a peripheral blood eosinophil count greater than 1500/mm3 and may be associated with tissue damage. After exclusion of secondary causes of eosinophilia, diagnostic evaluation of primary eosinophilias relies on a combination of morphologic review of the blood and marrow, standard cytogenetics, fluorescent in situ-hybridization, flow immunocytometry, and T-cell clonality assessment to detect histopathologic or clonal evidence for an acute or chronic myeloid or lymphoproliferative disorder. Risk stratification Disease prognosis relies on identifying the subtype of eosinophilia. After evaluation of secondary causes of eosinophilia, the 2016 World Health Organization endorses a semi-molecular classification scheme of disease subtypes which includes the major category “myeloid/lymphoid neoplasms with eosinophilia and rearrangement of PDGFRA, PDGFRB, or FGFR1 or with PCM1-JAK2,” and the “MPN subtype, chronic eosinophilic leukemia, not otherwise specified” (CEL, NOS). Lymphocyte-variant hypereosinophilia is an aberrant T-cell clone-driven reactive eosinophila, and idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a diagnosis of exclusion. Risk-adapted therapy The goal of therapy is to mitigate eosinophil-mediated organ damage. For patients with milder forms of eosinophilia (e.g., < 1500/mm3) without symptoms or signs of organ involvement, a watch and wait approach with close-follow-up may be undertaken. Identification of rearranged PDGFRA or PDGFRB is critical because of the exquisite responsiveness of these diseases to imatinib. Corticosteroids are first-line therapy for patients with lymphocyte-variant hypereosinophilia and HES. Hydroxyurea and interferon-alpha have demonstrated efficacy as initial treatment and steroid-refractory cases of HES. In addition to hydroxyurea, second line cytotoxic chemotherapy agents and hematopoietic cell transplant have been used for aggressive forms of HES and CEL with outcomes reported for limited numbers of patients. The use of antibodies against interleukin-5 (IL-5) (mepolizumab), the IL-5 receptor (benralizumab), and CD52 (alemtuzumab), as well as other targets on eosinophils remains an active area of investigation.
Prevalence and Correlates of Medical Financial Hardship in the USA.

High patient out-of-pocket (OOP) spending for medical care is associated with medical debt, distress about household finances, and forgoing medical care because of cost in the USA. To examine the national prevalence of medical financial hardship domains: (1) material conditions from increased OOP expenses (e.g., medical debt), (2) psychological responses (e.g., distress), and (3) coping behaviors (e.g., forgoing care); and factors associated with financial hardship. We identified adults aged 18–64 years (N = 68,828) and ≥ 65 years (N = 24,614) from the 2015–2017 National Health Interview Survey. Multivariable analyses of nationally representative cross-sectional survey data were stratified by age group, 18–64 years and ≥ 65 years. Prevalence of material, psychological, and behavioral hardship and hardship intensity. Approximately 137.1 million (95% CI 132.7–141.5) adults reported any medical financial hardship in the past year. Hardship is more common for material, psychological and behavioral domains in adults aged 18–64 years (28.9%, 46.9%, and 21.2%, respectively) than in adults aged ≥ 65 years (15.3%, 28.4%, and 12.7%, respectively; all p < .001). Lower educational attainment and more health conditions were strongly associated with hardship intensity in multivariable analyses in both age groups (p < .001). In the younger group, the uninsured were more likely to report multiple domains of hardship (52.8%), compared to those with some public (26.5%) or private insurance (23.2%) (p < .001). In the older group, individuals with Medicare only were more likely to report hardship in multiple domains (17.1%) compared to those with Medicare and public (12.1%) or Medicare and private coverage (10.1%) (p < .001). Medical financial hardship is common in the USA, especially in adults aged 18–64 years and those without health insurance coverage. With trends towards higher patient cost-sharing and increasing health care costs, risks of hardship may increase in the future.
Do Teachers Spend Less Time Teaching in Classrooms with Students with Special Needs? Trends from International Data.

Debates about the inclusion of students with disabilities in general education classrooms often overlook its impact on teachers. In this study, I analyze the concern that teachers may spend less ti...
Red Blood Cells Specifically Bind a C-peptide/Albumin Complex

People with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) require exogenous insulin due to the destruction of insulin-secreting pancreatic β-cells. However, even with insulin treatments, people with T1D develop complicati...
How Do Highly Sensitized Patients Get Kidney Transplants in the United States? Trends Over The Last Decade

Prioritization of highly sensitized (HS) candidates under the kidney allocation system (KAS) and growth of large, multicenter kidney-paired donation (KPD) clearinghouses have broadened the transplant modalities available to HS candidates. To quantify temporal trends in utilization of these modalities, we used SRTR data from 2009 to 2017 to study 39 907 adult HS (cPRA ≥ 80%) waitlisted candidates and 19 003 recipients. We used competing risks regression to quantify temporal trends in likelihood of DDKT, KPD, and non-KPD LDKT for HS candidates (Era 1: January 1, 2009-December 31, 2011; Era 2: January 1, 2012-December 3, 2014; Era 3: December 4, 2014-December 31, 2017). Although the likelihood of DDKT and KPD increased over time for all HS candidates (adjusted subhazard ratio [aSHR] Era 3 vs 1 for DDKT: 1.74 1.851.97 , P < .001 and for KPD: 1.70 2.202.84 , P < .001), the likelihood of non-KPD LDKT decreased (aSHR: 0.69 0.820.97 , P = .02). However, these changes affected HS recipients differently based on cPRA. Among recipients, more cPRA 98%-99.9% and 99.9%+ recipients underwent DDKT (96.2% in Era 3% vs 59.1% in Era 1 for cPRA 99.9%+), whereas fewer underwent non-KPD LDKT (1.9% vs 30.9%) or KPD (2.0% vs 10.0%). Although KAS increased DDKT likelihood for the most HS candidates, it also decreased the use of non-KPD LDKT to transplant cPRA 98%+ candidates.
Machine Learning Techniques for Motion Analysis of Fatigue from Manual Material Handling Operations Using 3D Motion Capture Data

Industrial Revolution 4.0 is defined as the interconnection of Information, Communications Technologies (ICT), and factory floor workers. Workers in the material handling industry are often subject to repetitive motions that cause exhaustion (or fatigue) which leads to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). The most common repetitive motions are lifting, pulling, pushing, carrying and walking with load. In this research data is collected as time-stamped motion data using infrared cameras at a rate of 100Hz while a subject performs one of the repetitive motions (i.e. lifting). The data is a combination of xyz-coordinates of 39 reflective markers. This results in 117 data points for each frame captured. Since these motions occur over time for a duration of time, this data is used as input to a time-series machine learning (ML) model such as Recurrent Neural Network (RNN). Using this model, this paper evaluates machine learning techniques, based on RNN, to evaluate the fatigue factor caused by repetitive motions.
Chapter 10 – Protein Quantitation

Publisher Summary The measurement of the amount of protein present in a sample becomes complex as food scientists discover new and unusual protein materials and work with less characterized systems. The U.S. government has declared that Kjeldahl nitrogen analysis is the legal basis for determining protein for food products. The Lowry method is considered the standard procedure in many labs. Another spectral technique for protein measurements is the dye-binding technique. The assumption is that an acidic dye binds the alkaline or basic amino acids lysine, arginine, and possibly histidine. The UV spectrophotometer can also be used to measure the quantity of protein present. This method has two major advantages: (1) it is a quick test and (2) it is a nondestructive test. The proteins in an aqueous solution are probably not completely denatured, that is, they do not exist as random coils. Therefore, there might be a problem because the reactants and the proteins do not react completely.
Casa de Pueblo, Spain: Bridging the Divide Between Built and Moveable Heritage Conservators Through Social Media

In the winter of 2016, the eastern facade of a humble manor house in the town of Used (Zaragoza, Spain) collapsed. The building had been vacant since 1965 and for decades water had been filtering b...
Anglophone Africa: Education, Religion, and Nation Building, 1960s–1990s

This chapter provides evidence from a range of Anglophone African national curriculums developed between the 1960s and 1980s that demonstrate Christianity’s integration in the new national curriculum to assist in the development of nationhood. The use of Christian Western education systems by newly independent African nations as a tool of national assimilation is a major part of any discussion on “Christianity and Politics in an Age of African Liberation.” As African nation-states took over the colonial education systems, Africanization of the curriculum was the immediate demand of the people and the promise of the new administration. In reality, Christianity and neocolonial sentiments of Western modernity kept much of the curriculum Western and Christian with few exceptions. A new twist on this continued integration of Christianity and formal education developed within Anglophone Africa that resulted in nationalized curriculums embedded with religious, most often Christian, doctrine. On the one hand, education was a necessary tool to create a unified national identity. On the other hand, due to the long history of missionary Christian influences in the imposed Western education system, it proved impossible to separate education and religion. Christian religion took on a different tone in new African nation-states. It was no longer a means to discipline and assimilate African Indigenous societies to a European colonial ruler. It was now part and parcel of the new national identity used to promote and enforce nation making and national citizenship. This chapter argues that while African leaders spoke of Pan African liberation, much of what developed on the ground was a neocolonial Christian model of nationhood that kept Indigenous ethno-national identities, their religions, and education systems in the margins.
Patients with Obesity Have Better Long-Term Outcomes after Hospitalization for COPD Exacerbation.

Obesity has been shown to have a paradoxical benefit in a number of conditions, but the long-term effects in obesity after chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation is still unclear...
The association between guideline-based exercise thresholds and low testosterone among men in the United States.

BACKGROUND Exercise and weight loss have been shown to improve serum testosterone (T) in obese individuals. However, the association between low T levels and guideline-based exercise thresholds has not been determined. OBJECTIVE Using the recently updated Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee (PAGAC) recommendations, we sought to investigate the relationship between recommended activity levels and the prevalence of low T levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS The2011-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was used to identify men ages 18 to 80 years who answered the physical activity questionnaire and underwent serum T testing. Men were categorized based on PAGAC activity level: less than recommended, recommended and greater than recommended. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to determine the association between low T (<300 ng/dL) and activity level across body mass index (BMI) categories while adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS Of the 7372 men who met the inclusion criteria, the majority (4372, 59.3%) exceeded the recommended amount of activity, whereas only 2326 (31.6%) exercised less than the recommended amount. On multivariable analysis, obese men whose activity exceeded the recommended amount were less likely to have low T (OR 0.523, 95% CI 0.409-0.669, P < .001) compared with men who did not meet the recommended activity level. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Using a large, nationally representative cohort, we demonstrated that obese men whose activity exceeded PAGAC recommendations had a decreased likelihood of having low T levels. Given the numerous benefits of exercise, these data provide a basis for counseling obese patients regarding the association between exercise and decreased prevalence of low T.
Human pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias can be classified as B-1 or B-2-like based on a minimal transcriptional signature.

The finding that transformed mouse B-1 and B-2 progenitors give rise to B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (B-ALLs) with varied aggressiveness suggests that B-cell lineage might also be a factor in the initiation and progression of pediatric B-ALLs in humans. If this is the case, we hypothesized that human pediatric B-ALLs would share gene expression patterns with mouse B-1 or B-2 progenitors. We tested this premise by deriving a distinct 30-gene B-1 and B-2 progenitor signature that was applied to a microarray data set of human pediatric ALLs. Cluster analysis revealed that CRLF2, E2A-PBX1, ERG, and ETV6–RUNX1 leukemias were B-1-like, whereas BCR–ABL1, hyperdiploid, and MLL leukemias were B-2-like. Examination of the 30-gene signature in two independent data sets of pediatric ALLs supported this result. Our data suggest that common genetic subtypes of human ALL have their origin in the B-1 or B-2 lineage.
Medicated feeds and the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) in small ruminants

The Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act of 1994 (AMDUCA) amended the Food Drug & Cosmetic Act to permit extralabel use of animal drugs under certain conditions. However, AMDUCA does not permit the extralabel use of medicated feed articles. Minor species such as sheep and goats (small ruminants) have very few animal drugs approved for their use and practitioners may determine that extralabel use is justified to prevent suffering and death. Compliance Policy Guide Sec. 615.115 Extralabel Use of Medicated Feeds for Minor Species (CPG 615.115) provides guidance on the current thinking of the Food and Drug Administration related to exercising enforcement discretion with regard to the extralabel use of medicated feeds in minor species. This presentation will walk through the CPG 615.115 from a practitioner’s perspective with goal of addressing common questions and situations where extralabel use of medicated feeds in sheep and goats may be indicated.
Radiation damage and recovery properties of common plastics PEN (Polyethylene Naphthalate) and PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) using a 137Cs gamma ray source up to 1.4 Mrad and 14 Mrad

Polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) and polyethylene teraphthalate (PET) are cheap and common polyester plastics used throughout the world in the manufacturing of bottled drinks, containers for foodstuffs, and fibers used in clothing. These plastics are also known organic scintillators with very good scintillation properties. As particle physics experiments increase in energy and particle flux density, so does radiation exposure to detector materials. It is therefore important that scintillators be tested for radiation tolerance at these generally unheard of doses. We tested samples of PEN and PET using laser stimulated emission on separate tiles exposed to 1 Mrad and 10 Mrad gamma rays with a 137Cs source. PEN exposed to 1.4 Mrad and 14 Mrad emit 71.4% and 46.7% of the light of an undamaged tile, respectively, and maximally recover to 85.9% and 79.5% after 5 and 9 days, respectively. PET exposed to 1.4 Mrad and 14 Mrad emit 35.0% and 12.2% light, respectively, and maximally recover to 93.5% and 80.0% after 22 and 60 days, respectively.
Lessons from Cost-Effectiveness Research for United States Public Health Policy

The application of cost-effectiveness analysis to health care has been the subject of previous reviews. We address the use of economic evaluation methods in public health, including case studies of population-level policies, e.g., environmental regulations, injury prevention, tobacco control, folic acid fortification, and blood product safety, and the public health promotion of clinical preventive services, e.g., newborn screening, cancer screening, and childhood immunizations. We review the methods used in cost-effectiveness analysis, the implications for cost-effectiveness findings, and the extent to which economic studies have influenced policy and program decisions. We discuss reasons for the relatively limited impact to date of economic evaluation in public health. Finally, we address the vexing question of how to decide which interventions are cost effective and worthy of funding. Policy makers have funded certain interventions with rather high cost-effectiveness ratios, notably nucleic acid testing for blood product safety. Cost-effectiveness estimates are a decision aid, not a decision rule.
Radar systems, signals, and phenomenology

Radar, short for "radio detection and ranging," was first conceived in the 1930s as means to provide early warning of approaching aircraft. It operates by transmitting an electromagnetic (EM) wave and processing the received echoes to measure the distance, velocity and scattering properties of objects and their surroundings. As radar transceivers themselves have become smaller, lighter in weight, and lower in cost due to advances in solid-state microelectronics, so has radar emerged as a key enabler in newer fields, such as automotive sensing and self-driving vehicle technology, gesture recognition for human-computer interfaces, and biomedical applications of remote health monitoring and vital sign detection. The proliferation of radar is indeed remarkable and presents a vast arena where deep learning, cybernetics, and artificial intelligence can enable disruptive technological advancements.
Cs absorption capacity and selectivity of crystalline and amorphous Hf and Zr phosphates

Abstract Removal of radioactive Cs from sodium-rich solutions is a technical challenge that goes back to post World War II nuclear waste storage and treatment; and interest in this topic was reinvigorated by the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster, 10 years ago. Since the 1960′s there has been considerable focus on layered Zr phosphates as robust inorganic sorbents for separation of radionuclides such as Cs. Here we present synthesis and characterization, and direct comparison of Cs sorption capacity and selectivity of four related materials: 1) crystalline α-Zr phosphate and α-Hf phosphate, and 2) amorphous analogues of these. Powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, solid-state 31P magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR) spectroscopy, and compositional analysis (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy, ICP OES and ICP MS) provided formulae; respectively M(HPO4)2⋅1H2O and M(HPO4)2⋅4H2O (M = Hf, Zr) for crystalline and amorphous analogues. Maximum Cs loading, competitive Cs-Na selectivity and maximum Cs-Na loading followed by the above characterizations plus 133Cs MAS-NMR spectroscopy revealed that amorphous analogues are considerably better Cs-sorbents (based on maximum Cs-loading and selectivity over Na) than the well-studied crystalline Zr-analogue. Additionally, crystalline α-Hf phosphate is better Cs-sorbent than crystalline α-Zr phosphate. All these studies consistently show that Hf phosphate is less crystallize than Zr phosphate, when obtained under similar or identical synthesis conditions. We attribute this to lower solubility of Hf phosphate compared to Zr phosphate, preventing ‘defect healing’ during the synthesis process.
Intercellular Communication in the Nervous System Goes Viral

Viruses and transposable elements are major drivers of evolution and make up over half the sequences in the human genome. In some cases, these elements are co-opted to perform biological functions for the host. Recent studies made the surprising observation that the neuronal gene Arc forms virus-like protein capsids that can transfer RNA between neurons to mediate a novel intercellular communication pathway. Phylogenetic analyses showed that mammalian Arc is derived from an ancient retrotransposon of the Ty3/gypsy family and contains homology to the retroviral Gag polyproteins. The Drosophila Arc homologs, which are independently derived from the same family of retrotransposons, also mediate cell-to-cell signaling of RNA at the neuromuscular junction; a striking example of convergent evolution. Here we propose an Arc 'life cycle', based on what is known about retroviral Gag, and discuss how elucidating these biological processes may lead to novel insights into brain plasticity and memory.
Jet Fuel Desulfurization for Portable Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Applications

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are capable of utilizing energy-dense hydrocarbon fuels such as jet fuels for highly efficient power generation. Currently, a major challenge for using the jet fuel (e.g. JP-8) in SOFC power systems is its sulfur content, which poisons the SOFC anode and fuel reforming catalysts. The reduction of sulfur to 99.5% sulfur in the jet fuel with the final sulfur concentrations close to a sub-ppm level. The reactor could be adapted to the desulfurization of other liquid hydrocarbon fuels such as gasoline and diesel.
“Ever Man Loves Peace and a Old Man Best of All”: Revisiting Uncle Arthur “Ather” Ownby and the Government Tank in Cormac McCarthy’s The Orchard Keeper

The essay explores two principal aspects of The Orchard Keeper (1965), Cormac McCarthy’s first published novel. It first examines McCarthy’s sensitively realized portrait of the old hermit Uncle Ar...
Analysis of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Sightings Reports: Determination of Factors Leading to High Sighting Reports

Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) growth in the past several years has been rising at a steady pace which has complicated the attempts to safely integrate them into the National Airspace System, as ev...
NODs: intracellular proteins involved in inflammation and apoptosis.

NOD (nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain) proteins are members of a family that includes the apoptosis regulator APAF1 (apoptotic protease activating factor 1), mammalian NOD-LRR (leucine-rich repeat) proteins and plant disease-resistance gene products. Several NOD proteins have been implicated in the induction of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity and in the activation of caspases. Two members of the NOD family, NOD1 and NOD2, mediate the recognition of specific bacterial components. Notably, genetic variation in the genes encoding the NOD proteins NOD2, cryopyrin and CIITA (MHC class II transactivator) in humans and Naip5 (neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein 5) in mice is associated with inflammatory disease or increased susceptibility to bacterial infections. Mammalian NOD proteins seem to function as cytosolic sensors for the induction of apoptosis, as well as for innate recognition of microorganisms and regulation of inflammatory responses.
Network calculus delay bounds in queueing networks with exact solutions

The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the accuracy of probabilistic delay bounds obtained with network calculus. In particular, by comparing calculus bounds with exact results in a series of M/M/1 queues with cross traffic, we show that reasonably accurate bounds are achieved when the percentage of cross traffic is low. We use recent results in network calculus and, in addition, propose novel bounds based on Doob's maximal inequality for supermartingales. In the case of single M/M/1 and M/D/1 queues, our results improve existing bounds by Ω(log(1-ρ)-1/1-ρ) when the utilization factor ρ converges to one.
Comparative Resilience Notions and Vertex Attack Tolerance of Scale-Free Networks

We are concerned with an appropriate mathematical measure of resilience in the face of targeted node attacks for arbitrary degree networks, and subsequently comparing the resilience of different scale-free network models with the proposed measure. We strongly motivate our resilience measure termed \emph{vertex attack tolerance} (VAT), which is denoted mathematically as $\tau(G) = \min_{S \subset V} \frac{|S|}{|V-S-C_{max}(V-S)|+1}$, where $C_{max}(V-S)$ is the largest connected component in $V-S$. We attempt a thorough comparison of VAT with several existing resilience notions: conductance, vertex expansion, integrity, toughness, tenacity and scattering number. Our comparisons indicate that for artbitrary degree distributions VAT is the only measure that fully captures both the major \emph{bottlenecks} of a network and the resulting \emph{component size distribution} upon targeted node attacks (both captured in a manner proportional to the size of the attack set). For the case of $d$-regular graphs, we prove that $\tau(G) \le d\Phi(G)$, where $\Phi(G)$ is the conductance of the graph $G$. Conductance and expansion are well-studied measures of robustness and bottlenecks in the case of regular graphs but fail to capture resilience in the case of highly heterogeneous degree graphs. Regarding comparison of different scale-free graph models, our experimental results indicate that PLOD graphs with degree distributions identical to BA graphs of the same size exhibit consistently better vertex attack tolerance than the BA type graphs, although both graph types appear asymptotically resilient for BA generative parameter $m = 2$. BA graphs with $m = 1$ also appear to lack resilience, not only exhibiting very low VAT values, but also great transparency in the identification of the vulnerable node sets, namely the hubs, consistent with well known previous work.
Control of cell lineage and cell fate during nematode development.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the developmental and comparative studies that define the key issues in nematode development. It describes the evidence for intrinsic and extrinsic controls of cell fates, the studies of the mechanisms of cell fate specification, and the evolution of fate-specifying mechanisms. Most cell fates in nematodes are specified autonomously, and nematodes thus lie toward one end of a continuum of organisms whose development ranges from mostly conditional to mostly autonomous. Invariant cell interactions are experimentally useful: the experimenter knows what a cell will do before the cell becomes specified. As for understanding the autonomous specification of cell fate, the original attraction of nematodes still exists: asymmetric cell divisions, in which two daughter cells differ in their fates, presumably due to the asymmetric distribution of some factors at the cell division, can be studied in a variety of cells, from the first cleavage of the zygote to late in sexual maturation. Free-living soil nematodes develop during a relatively short period of embryogenesis, followed by a more extended period of postembryonic development. During postembryonic development, growth-associated increases in cell number and sexual differentiation occur. The invariant development of nematodes, such as Caenorhabditis elegans, is due not only to a deterministic cell lineage, but also to highly reproducible cell interactions. A rigidly determined cell lineage ensures that cells are born in identical positions in each animal, thereby allowing a precise fate specification by cell interactions.
Induced disease resistance : how do induced plants stop pathogens?

The phenomenon of induced or acquired resistance to disease in plants has been studied intensively in recent years. This has led to a better understanding of the signaling pathways involved in the expression of systemic resistance as well as the genetic regulation of induced or acquired resistance. Although the induction of resistance to disease results in the expression of less disease in the plant after challenge with pathogens, how the plant is able to restrict the development of the pathogen is not clearly defined. In this paper, some of the defenses expressed in plants with induced resistance will be discussed in relation to how the induced plants may restrict disease development.
Heeding the Warning in Biodiversity's Basic Law

One of the first patterns in ecology to be elucidated was the species-area relationship: Larger areas harbor more species than smaller areas. This relationship was explained by theoretical ecologists in terms of a log-normal distribution of species abundance, but Harte and colleagues provide a more accurate mathematical explanation of the species-area relationship. Michael Rosenzweig discusses this new mathematical interpretation in his Perspective and explains how it can be used to help to conserve species diversity.
Irreducibility and Cuspidality

Suppose ρ is an n-dimensional representation of the absolute Galois group of Q which is associated, via an identity of L-functions, with an automorphic representation π of GL(n) of the adele ring of Q. It is expected that π is cuspidal if and only if ρ is irreducible, though nothing much is known in either direction in dimensions > 2. The object of this article is to show for n < 6 that the cuspidality of a regular algebraic π is implied by the irreducibility of ρ. For n < 5, it suffices to assume that π is semi-regular.
Relations Among Children's Perceptions of Maternal Behavior, Attributional Styles, and Behavioral Symptomatology in Maltreated Children

This investigation examined relations among perceptions of mothers, attributional style, and counselor-rated behavior problems in 187 school age children (88 maltreated, 99 nonmaltreated). Hypotheses regarding the presence of higher levels of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems in maltreated children were confirmed. Attributional style was found to function as a moderator of externalizing behavior problems, suggesting that attributional style exerts a protective role against the harmful effect of child maltreatment. Perceptions of mothers were found to operate as a mediator of both internalizing and externalizing symptomatology, with maltreated children with less positive perceptions of their mothers exhibiting greater internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. These findings advance knowledge of how cognitive processes contribute to behavior problems in maltreated children and possess implications for prevention and intervention efforts.
Triggering of volcanic eruptions

Although earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are each manifestations of large-scale tectonic plate and mantle motions, it is usually thought that the occurrences of these events are not directly related. There have been some studies, however, in which triggering of volcanic eruptions by earthquakes (remote from the volcano) has been proposed1,2. The 1992 Landers (southern California) earthquake caused triggered seismicity at very large distances3, including the magmatically active4 Long Valley caldera region which also experienced a significant coincident deformation transient5. Motivated by this demonstration of the ability of a distant earthquake to disturb a volcanic system, and the earlier studies of specific cases of eruption triggering, we examine here the historical record of eruptions and earthquakes to see if there are indeed significantly more eruptions immediately following large earthquakes. We find that within a day or two of large earthquakes there are many more eruptions within a range of 750 km than would otherwise be expected. Additionally, it is well known6 that volcanoes separated by hundreds of kilometres frequently erupt in unison; the characteristics of such eruption pairs are also consistent with the hypothesis that the second eruption is triggered by earthquakes associated with the first.
Ionic and pharmacological modification of input resistance and excitability in paramecium

Abstract 1. 1. Pharmacological agents and specific ionic conditions modify membrane properties of Paramecia. 2. 2. Lanthanum, TEA and tetracaine increase input resistance and regenerative response amplitude indicating a blockage of the calcium leakage current normally occurring during regenerative depolarizations. 3. 3. TEA blocks late repolarizing current as in nerve and muscle. 4. 4. Lanthanum does not block activated early inward current as in metazoan calcium spike systems. 5. 5. Alteration of the external ( K )/( Ca ) 1 2 ratio and increasing ionic strength at constant ( K )/( Ca ) 1 2 yield results consistent with the hypothesis that ciliary reversal is determined by electrophysiological factors controlling internal calcium concentration.
Piezoelectric ceramic-polymer composites for weigh-in-motion sensors

Piezoelectric materials produce a voltage proportional to an applied pressure. Using this phenomenon, piezoelectric polymer sensors are already being used for collecting traffic data including weight-in-motion, measuring speeds and counting axles. The polymer sensors are usually in the form of a long tape or cable embedded within long blocks of elastomeric material. These sensor assemblies are then installed into grooves, which are cut into roads perpendicular to the traffic flow. The biggest disadvantage of these sensors is that the piezoelectric output is not uniform with temperature, thus leading to large uncertainty in the data collected. Piezoelectric ceramics have a much more stable response over a large temperature range. However, until now they have not been used for traffic data sensors because of their inherent brittleness. In this research project flexible ceramic/polymer composite strips have been fabricated for use as piezoelectric sensors for measuring large vehicle loads. Here, the ceramic is the active piezoelectric material that is embedded in a flexible non-piezoelectric polymer. After encapsulating these sensors in elastomeric blocks in aluminum channels, the voltage output of the composite for different loads have been determined. Also, these composite sensor assemblies are being installed on a test road in order to perform actual measurements.
Effects of impurities on the optical properties of poly-3-hexylthiophene thin films

Abstract Commercial poly-3-hexylthiophene was used to create thin films, which were analyzed to determine density, the dependence of the optical absorption on film thickness and the effects of impurities on the optical properties of the polymer. Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) demonstrated Zn and Br impurities in the films, which could be removed with methanol extraction. These impurities affect the optical properties of the polymer. Film thicknesses were measured using atomic force microscopy, and in combination with the RBS data, the density of the polymer film was ascertained to be 1.33±0.07 g/cm3. The dependence of the polymer absorbance on the film thickness is well modeled by the linear function T= 136.8±2.4 A λ max + 6.9±2.0 , where T is the film thickness and A(λmax) is the absorbance maximum.
An XML-Based Networking Method for Connecting Distributed Anthropometric Databases

Anthropometric data are used by numerous types of organizations for health evaluation, ergonomics, apparel sizing, fitness training, and many other applications. Data have been collected and stored in electronic databases since at least the 1940s. These databases are owned by many organizations around the world. In addition, the anthropometric studies stored in these databases often employ different standards, terminology, procedures, or measurement sets. To promote the use and sharing of these databases, the World Engineering Anthropometry Resources (WEAR) group was formed and tasked with the integration and publishing of member resources. It is easy to see that organizing worldwide anthropometric data into a single database architecture could be a daunting and expensive undertaking. The challenges of WEAR integration reflect mainly in the areas of distributed and disparate data, different standards and formats, independent memberships, and limited development resources. Fortunately, XML schema and web services provide an alternative method for networking databases, referred to as the Loosely Coupled WEAR Integration. A standard XML schema can be defined and used as a type of Rosetta stone to translate the anthropometric data into a universal format, and a web services system can be set up to link the databases to one another. In this way, the originators of the data can keep their data locally along with their own data management system and user interface, but their data can be searched and accessed as part of the larger data network, and even combined with the data of others. This paper will identify requirements for WEAR integration, review XML as the universal format, review different integration approaches, and propose a hybrid web services/data mart solution.
Controlled dissociation of I2 via optical transitions between the X and B electronic states

Abstract Recent progress in both theoretical and experimental methods has led to the widespread belief that control of chemical reactions with ultrashort laser pulses is in principle achievable. In this article, the I 2 molecule, which has been the subject of a great deal of femtosecond work, is studied theoretically as a prospect for experimental control. An unconstrained optimization of the electric field is performed, with the objective of dissociation on the B state. Krotov's optimization theory is used for this unconstrained optimization, which reduces the CPU time usage by a factor of four. The field which results from the optimization yields a probability of 99% for B state dissociation. The Husimi transform of the optimal field indicates a simple underlying structure, in contrast with many previous fields obtained by optimal control theory: the optimal field closely resembles a sequence of three Gaussian pulses with the same central frequency. Analysis of the optimal field indicates it operates by a quasi-cw excitation directly into the B continuum. A constrained optimization was then performed: the electric field was restricted onto the frequency interval from 0 to 19752 cm −1 to avoid the quasi-continuous-wave excitation mechanism. The optimal solution of this problem uses a three-photon pump—dump—pump (PDP) mechanism. The optimal field was approximated by sequences of three and four Gaussian-shaped laser pulses; the optimal and the two approximating fields gave 34%, 6% and 11% for the dissociation probability, respectively. The fields from the constrained optimization have fwhm on the order of 30–50 fs and intensities in the range of 10 10 W/cm 2 and should be experimentally producible with available technology.
Differential responsivity of mood, behavior and cognition to cholinergic agents in elderly neuropsychiatric populations

To evaluate the possible differential responsivity of Alzheimer patients to cholinergic agents, a series of pharmacologic challenge studies in 83 neuropsychiatric patients and controls were performed contrasting a cholinergic antagonist (scopolamine) with two cholinergic agonists (arecoline and nicotine). Alzheimer patients displayed significantly greater behavioral and cognitive responses to central cholinergic blockade at lower scopolamine doses than age-matched controls or elderly depressives. These differential changes could not be explained by group differences in the sedative, physiologic, or pharmacokinetic effects of the drug. In addition, the elderly, age-matched control subjects did reveal a profile of cognitive deficits at the highest dose (0.5 mg), which temporarily mimicked the baseline impairments found in early Alzheimer's disease. Together, these findings with scopolamine suggest an increased sensitivity to cholinergic blockade in Alzheimer's disease and demonstrate the first direct evidence of anticholinergic modelling of dementia in normal elderly subjects. To investigate further the postsynaptic cholinergic responsivity in Alzheimer's disease, patients were studied with arecoline and nicotine. While the cognitive effects of both agents were modest at best, there were significant differences in mood and behavioral responses between arecoline and nicotine in Alzheimer subjects. These behavioral changes occurred at much lower doses in the Alzheimer patients than those required in normal controls, once more supporting the notion of increased behavioral sensitivity to cholinergic agents in Alzheimer's disease. In addition, the differential mood effects between these two cholinergic agonists raise new questions about receptor selectivity in the cholinergic regulation of mood.
Increase in the ATP signal after treatment with cisplatin in two different cell lines studied by 31P NMR spectroscopy.

Abstract We have compared the 31 P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of two different cisplatin resistant cell lines, one derived from human ovarian carcinoma and the other from rat lymphoma, and their respective cisplatin sensitive parental cells lines. Comparisons were made between the baseline spectra and after perfusion of the cells with 20–50 μM cisplatin for 16–20 hours. While no obvious differences were found between baseline spectra of sensitive and resistant cells, during cisplatin perfusion the sensitive cells had an increase in their ATP signals. The resistant cells also exhibited increases in their ATP signals during cisplatin perfusion but to a lesser extent than the sensitive cells. Although the significance of these ATP elevations towards the cellular pharmacology of cisplatin are not presently known, our studies demonstrate that 31 P NMR spectroscopy may be useful for elucidating differences in phosphate metabolism in cells expressing the cisplatin resistant phenotype.