cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Angiosarcoma of the parotid gland with a t(12;22) translocation creating a EWSR1-ATF1 fusion: a diagnostic dilemma.

We present a case of a malignant tumour of the parotid gland, originally thought to represent metastatic melanoma (of unknown primary), later reclassified as malignant melanoma of soft part/clear cell sarcoma (MMSP/CCS) on the basis of the presence of a EWSR1–ATF1 gene fusion. Further immunophenotypic studies demonstrated vascular differentiation in support of a diagnosis of angiosarcoma. Although extraordinarily rare, angiosarcomas of the parotid gland have been described; while MMSP/CCS of the parotid has not been documented, EWSR1 rearrangements have never been demonstrated in angiosarcoma. This case therefore provides an example of the way in which morphological findings must be integrated to provide the appropriate pathological diagnosis. A 72-year-old otherwise healthy woman presented with a 6-week history of a rapidly enlarging mass of her right jaw, with associated facial nerve paralysis. A head and neck CT scan showed an enhancing 3.5×2.6×4.0 cm mass with ill-defined margins and a somewhat spiculated appearance in the right parotid gland, which was subsequently excised. Grossly, an ill-defined nodule with extensive haemorrhage, measuring 4.7× 2.4×2.4 cm, was present. Microscopic examination showed a pleomorphic malignant neoplasm that appeared to arise in an intraparotid lymph node. The tumour invaded adjacent skeletal muscle and adipose tissue and had vascular-like spaces. The tumour cells had epithelioid, spindle and focal rhabdoid morphology (figure 1). No melanin pigment was present. The tumour cells in many areas grew around vessels with a characteristic peritheliomatous pattern, and areas with Azzopardi effect were also seen. Figure 1 (A) Low-power view (4 ). A malignant neoplasm is seen with infiltration into the parotid parenchyma. (B) Some areas show a clear spindle cell component. (C, D) High …
Eco-Inspired Robust Control Design Algorithms For Linear Systems with Real Parameter Uncertainty

This paper addresses the issue of robust control design of linear dynamical systems with real parameter uncertainty. It is well known that existing robust control design methodologies such as H-infinity and μ synthesis become very conservative when dealing with real parameter uncertainty. In robust control design methods that currently exist in the literature, which use Lyapunov and Riccati based methods, the control gains are functions of the perturbation data. The proposed robust control design algorithms in this paper differ from these in the sense that they focus on the control design to achieve a specific structure of the closed loop system matrix that guarantees as high stability robustness index as possible without the need for any information on the perturbation data. The proposed robust control design in which the structure of closed loop system matrix plays a central role, is inspired by the principles of ecology, wherein the desired closed loop matrix consists of self regulated species with predator-pray interactions among these species. A set of matrices labelled ‘Target Pseudo symmetric Matrices’ are used as the class of desirable closed loop system matrices. Based on these matrices, which capture the maximum achievable robustness index, robust control design is carried out such that the eventual closed loop system possesses a stability robustness index as close to the maximum achievable index as possible. Two separate robust control design algorithms are presented, which are relatively simple to implement. The algorithms are illustrated with several examples. It is hoped that the proposed robust control design algorithms aid in the revival of the field of robust control with new insights provided by ecological principles.
Dopaminergic Control of Locomotor Patterning during Development: A Tail for the Ages.

Dopamine (DA) directly modulates motor circuits in the brain and spinal cord. While the somata of all dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons in zebrafish and mammals are supraspinal, some of these, termed diencephalospinal neurons (DDNs), send long-distance descending projections into the spinal cord (Figure ​(Figure1A)1A) and have recently been implicated in spinal network (Reimer et al., 2013) and locomotor development (Lambert et al., 2012) in zebrafish. After many years of seminal research on the morphology and genetic specification of zebrafish DDNs and the DAergic diencephalospinal tract (DDT) (Schweitzer and Driever, 2009), our recent study was the first to explicitly investigate DDN function (Lambert et al., 2012). We combined pharmacological DAergic perturbations, demarcated transections, and selective chemogenetic ablation of orthopedia (otp) neurons to demonstrate that conserved DAergic otp neurons–a subset of which are DDNs (Fujimoto et al., 2011; Figure 1A2)—provide the impetus for endogenous DA receptor 4 (D4R) signaling to initiate and maintain a developmental switch, between 80 and 96 h post fertilization (hpf), to the mature episodic locomotor pattern of zebrafish. Interestingly, Reimer et al. (2013) also demonstrated that DAergic otp neurons drive endogenous D4R signaling, confirmed both pharmacologically and genetically, but for an even earlier developmental function- to influence the differentiation of spinal motor progenitor cells between 24 and 48 hpf. Both studies used additional experimental approaches to demonstrate that D4R signaling directly in the spinal cord was sufficient to emulate the developmental processes under question: localized spinal application of DA or D4R agonists was shown to influence progenitor pools, when applied for many hours (Reimer et al., 2013), or to modulate the duration of locomotor episodes, when applied for just 5–10 min (Lambert et al., 2012). Collectively, these studies unveil that DDNs may drive endogenous spinal D4R signaling, via the DDT, for two temporally distinct roles in locomotor development: (1) a transient early role that acts directly on progenitor pools but not neurons, with long lasting consequences (Figure ​(Figure1B,1B, left), and (2) a late role that likely acts through ongoing spinal neuronal signaling, for maintenance of episodic locomotor patterns (Figure ​(Figure1B,1B, right). This commentary considers the extent to which an understanding of each of these developmental roles integrates with or is modified by the most recent DDN-related findings of Jay et al.
Epidemiology of deaths from asthma in Pennsylvania, 1978-87.

Asthma affects an estimated 10 percent of the U.S. population and is the most common chronic disease among children. To determine one component of the public health burden of asthma in Pennsylvania, death certificates were reviewed of persons younger than 35 years who died from asthma during the period 1978-87. Blacks had nearly a sevenfold greater risk of death from asthma than whites. The highest death rates were found among black males and residents of the State's two largest urban areas, Philadelphia County and Allegheny County. A total of 67 percent of asthma deaths occurred outside of the health care system or in a hospital emergency department. Although reasons for excess deaths among black urban residents are not well understood, inadequate access to health care may play a role. Deaths from asthma are uncommon, but they are largely preventable. Intensified public health, preventive, and curative strategies regarding asthma need to be directed to the black urban population.
What Can Be Gleaned From News Coverage to Improve Science Reporting and Enhance Public Literacy About Agricultural Biotechnology in Ghana

ABSTRACTA content analysis of print and online sources was conducted to assess the performance of the Ghanaian news media in reporting about agricultural biotechnology. The findings show the dominant presence of food security and food safety issues in the coverage of genetically modified organisms that was overwhelmingly negative toward genetic engineering and its agricultural products. Members of the food industry and government officials (mainly politicians) were the most commonly cited information sources. A qualitative examination of news discourse suggests ways to strengthen the effectiveness of communicating agricultural information that will enhance public literacy and foster intelligent decision making about this controversial topic.
Control-Time: Immediacy and Constant Capitalism

Chapter 3 engages the character of contemporary control by articulating the concept of “constant capitalism,” the emergent mode of production in the early 21st century. In short, the increasing prevalence of immediacy, simultaneity and ubiquity force Marx’s dichotomy of constant capital and variable capital into a zone of indistinction, such that distinctions between worktime and freetime hold together no more well than that which once separated technology from humanity rhetorically. The chapter focuses on the process through which constant capitalism, tempo- and technocultural immediacy and neoliberal economics has given rise to a new form of financial dictatorship embodied most clearly in Michigan’s Emergency Financial Manager laws.
Facilitation of the IA peroneal reflex by volleys in the IA gastrocnemius afferents

During the cycle of normal walking, the ankle is dorsiflexed approximately 0.30 sec before the heel-strike occurs (Murray, 1967). This dorsiflexion (Figure 1,A) begins to lessen only slightly during the last 0.10 sec prior to the heel-strike. As the heel touches the ground, however, the position of the ankle changes abruptly, and in approximately 0.05 sec it reaches the endpoint of its plantar flexion (Murray, 1967), also referred to as extension (Figure 1,B). A gradual shift from this extension to a 90° stance position follows. The latter provides for an adequate support of the body during the time that the other leg is in the swing phase. This sequence of changes in the position of the ankle (from flexed to extended to stance) should produce corresponding changes in the amount of stretch imposed on the ankle extensor and flexor muscles. Consequently, the stretch-sensitive primary endings of the muscle spindle receptors should send afferent volleys over the IA fibers and thus initiate a certain sequence of monosynaptic stretch reflex activity. Therefore, a question was raised as to how the interaction of the IA volleys at the motor neuron pools influences the contraction of those muscles which control the position of the ankle. This interaction was analyzed by studying the effects of a sequential activation of the gastrocnemius and the peroneal reflexes.
Mitochondrial catalase overexpressed transgenic mice are protected against lung fibrosis in part via preventing alveolar epithelial cell mitochondrial DNA damage.

Abstract Rationale Alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) injury and mitochondrial dysfunction are important in the development of lung fibrosis. Our group has shown that in the asbestos exposed lung, the generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) in AEC mediate mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and apoptosis which are necessary for lung fibrosis. These data suggest that mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants should ameliorate asbestos-induced lung. Objective To determine whether transgenic mice that express mitochondrial-targeted catalase ( MCAT) have reduced lung fibrosis following exposure to asbestos or bleomycin and, if so, whether this occurs in association with reduced AEC mtDNA damage and apoptosis. Methods Crocidolite asbestos (100 µg/50 µL), TiO 2 (negative control), bleomycin (0.025 units/50 µL), or PBS was instilled intratracheally in 8–10 week-old wild-type (WT - C57Bl/6 J) or MCAT mice. The lungs were harvested at 21 d. Lung fibrosis was quantified by collagen levels (Sircol) and lung fibrosis scores. AEC apoptosis was assessed by cleaved caspase-3 (CC-3)/Surfactant protein C (SFTPC) immunohistochemistry (IHC) and semi-quantitative analysis. AEC (primary AT2 cells from WT and MCAT mice and MLE-12 cells) mtDNA damage was assessed by a quantitative PCR-based assay, apoptosis was assessed by DNA fragmentation, and ROS production was assessed by a Mito-Sox assay. Results Compared to WT, crocidolite-exposed MCAT mice exhibit reduced pulmonary fibrosis as measured by lung collagen levels and lung fibrosis score. The protective effects in MCAT mice were accompanied by reduced AEC mtDNA damage and apoptosis. Similar findings were noted following bleomycin exposure. Euk-134, a mitochondrial SOD/catalase mimetic, attenuated MLE-12 cell DNA damage and apoptosis. Finally, compared to WT, asbestos-induced MCAT AT2 cell ROS production was reduced. Conclusions Our finding that MCAT mice have reduced pulmonary fibrosis, AEC mtDNA damage and apoptosis following exposure to asbestos or bleomycin suggests an important role for AEC mitochondrial H 2 O 2 -induced mtDNA damage in promoting lung fibrosis. We reason that strategies aimed at limiting AEC mtDNA damage arising from excess mitochondrial H 2 O 2 production may be a novel therapeutic target for mitigating pulmonary fibrosis.
On The Ballot Theorems

The discovery of various ballot theorems has had great impact on several areas of combinatorics and probability theory. This paper deals with the historical background and the development of these theorems, analyzes various proofs and gives some applications.
Principal Role of Contact-Force Distribution in Determining the Thermal Conductivity of Supported Graphene

Graphene's remarkable properties include its outstanding thermal conductivity $\ensuremath{\kappa}$, and understanding heat flow at its interfaces is key to thermal management of graphene-based electronics. The authors study the ties between interfacial morphology and thermal conductivity and find that, rather than the magnitude of van der Waals interactions, it is uniformity (or lack thereof) in the contact-force distribution that primarily sets $\ensuremath{\kappa}$ in devices.
The application of automatic surface lights to improve airport safety

A description is given of the US Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) Airport Surface Traffic Automation (ASTA) program, which is part of an effort to develop new techniques for managing airport traffic. ASTA focuses on advanced surveillance, communications, and automation techniques, with the objectives of improving airport safety, reducing delays, and increasing efficiency. The first phase of the ASTA program, ASTA-1, which calls for the development of a system of automatic runway status lights, is examined in more detail. The lights are designed for fully automatic operation in all weather conditions. >
El río Paraná: de pulmón comercial a fábrica de energía (1870-1990)

Este articulo examina las transformaciones experimentadas por el Rio Parana en la region del Alto Parana fronterizo entre Brasil y Paraguay entre 1870 y 1990. Identifica tres etapas: la primera que abarca hasta la primera parte del siglo veinte que entendia el rio como una autopista comercial; la segunda a mediados del siglo veinte que expuso los limites de esa apreciacion del rio y el avance de otras redes de transporte alternativas; y la tercera, la actual, que utiliza el caudal del Parana como una fabrica de energia a partir de Itaipu en 1974.
Generation of conditional oncogenic chromosomal translocations using CRISPR–Cas9 genomic editing and homology‐directed repair

Chromosomal rearrangements encoding oncogenic fusion proteins are found in a wide variety of malignancies. The use of programmable nucleases to generate specific double-strand breaks in endogenous loci, followed by non-homologous end joining DNA repair, has allowed several of these translocations to be generated as constitutively expressed fusion genes within a cell population. Here, we describe a novel approach that combines CRISPR-Cas9 technology with homology-directed repair to engineer, capture, and modulate the expression of chromosomal translocation products in a human cell line. We have applied this approach to the genetic modelling of t(11;22)(q24;q12) and t(11;22)(p13;q12), translocation products of the EWSR1 gene and its 3' fusion partners FLI1 and WT1, present in Ewing's sarcoma and desmoplastic small round cell tumour, respectively. Our innovative approach allows for temporal control of the expression of engineered endogenous chromosomal rearrangements, and provides a means to generate models to study tumours driven by fusion genes. Copyright © 2017 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the Verbal Origin of the Verbal Suffixes of Bantu Verb Suffixes

What follows below is a hypothesis. It is by no means fully proven. I will attempt to bring a certain amount of data to show that it has definite empirical contents, then argue from several more universal considerations. The more general view which underlies the hypothesis presented here may be found in Givon [1971a]. Briefly, it is there suggested that in order to understand the current morphology and morphotactics of a language, one must construct highly specific hypotheses concerning the syntax of that language at some earlier historical stage of its development. Conversely, it is also suggested there that synchronic morphologies and morphotactics are a most powerful tool for reconstructing earlier diachronic stages in the syntax of a language.
Update on the treatment of narcolepsy: clinical efficacy of pitolisant

Narcolepsy is a neurological disease that affects 1 in 2,000 individuals and is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). In 60-70% of individuals with narcolepsy, it is also characterized by cataplexy or a sudden loss of muscle tone that is triggered by positive or negative emotions. Narcolepsy decreases the quality of life of the afflicted individuals. Currently used drugs treat EDS alone (modafinil/armodafinil, methylphenidate, and amphetamine), cataplexy alone ("off-label" use of antidepressants), or both EDS and cataplexy (sodium oxybate). These drugs have abuse, tolerability, and adherence issues. A greater diversity of drug options is needed to treat narcolepsy. The small molecule drug, pitolisant, acts as an inverse agonist/antagonist at the H3 receptor, thus increasing histaminergic tone in the wake promoting system of the brain. Pitolisant has been studied in animal models of narcolepsy and used in clinical trials as a treatment for narcolepsy. A comprehensive search of online databases (eg, Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library Database, Ovid MEDLINE, Europe PubMed Central, EBSCOhost CINAHL, ProQuest Research Library, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov) was performed. Nonrandomized and randomized studies were included. This review focuses on the outcomes of four clinical trials of pitolisant to treat narcolepsy. These four trials show that pitolisant is an effective drug to treat EDS and cataplexy in narcolepsy.
Symbolic Dynamic Patterns of Written Exchanges: Hierarchical Structures in an Electronic Problem Solving Group

A spontaneous scientific creative problem solving discussion, which had transpired across a listserver, was captured and content-analyzed according to two protocols. One protocol centered on social interaction and the second pertained to problem completion behavior. Data were analyzed for topological entropy and dimensional complexity with a hierarchical variation of the symbolic dynamics procedure that was first introduced by Guastello, Hyde, and Odak (1998). The principal findings were that (1) There was a greater prevalence of clarification and initiating (particularly creative) behaviors compared to a real-time creative problem solving episode; they were presumably liberated by the unblocking effect that tends to characterize computer-assisted group discussions. (2) There were complex responses containing up to five conversational elements as identified by a Social Interaction scoring system. (3) The two different scoring protocols produced different indicators of string length and entropy. The content of those patterns, which are, in principle, decomposed orbits, is discussed.
Planar cell polarity in the Drosophila eye: Cell fate and organization

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the specific features of planar cell polarity (PCP) establishment, signaling, and cellular read-out in the Drosophila eye (one of several Drosophila tissues with specific advantages for the genetic dissection and analysis of the process). The study of the establishment of PCP in the Drosophila retina serves as a paradigm for PCP establishment in multicellular units. The chapter reviews the molecular aspects of PCP signaling in the fly eye, and compares it to PCP signaling in other fly tissues and in general, to discuss the eye-specific and common read-outs resulting from the interpretation of the initial PCP signaling. The Drosophila eye, like all insect eyes, is a compound eye, containing several hundred ommatidia, each representing a separate unit. Each point in space is perceived by one ommatidium. a whole aspect of Drosophila eye development and patterning relates to the precise organization of the ommatidia with respect to their neighboring ommatidia and their position within the eye. Also, the establishment of this very precise arrangement is mediated by the PCP genes, and it is not only necessary for the proper arrangement of single ommatidia within the eye, but also for the proper arrangement of photoreceptors within each ommatidium itself.
An introductory tutorial for developing multiuser virtual environments

This paper is an introductory level tutorial describing how to implement a distributed multiparticipant virtual environment VE. This tutorial is intended for students who are competent programmers and who now wish to implement a distributed multiparticipant application. We describe the fundamental concepts of distributed computing for multiplayer simulations and provide a concrete example, including C source code available via the Internet. The template program demonstrates a simple multiplayer, distributed application, where each player controls the position of a space ship, and communicates the ship's position data over the network. The template uses broadcast communication and a technique called dead-reckoning to improve performance. We give detailed instructions on how to obtain and modify the template, so that students can quickly create their own distributed applications. We conclude by briefly discussing advanced issues that are important when constructing more sophisticated multiparticipant VEs.
A Risk based Approach to Estimate Key Uncertainties

Abstract Decisions during the early stages of R&D are often made under substantial uncertainty. Evaluation of R&D alternatives under uncertainty generally does not provide a clear choice that is best under all possible scenarios. For optimal investment of R&D resources, it is important to identify the key uncertainty contributors from a decision maker's perspective. Global sensitivity analysis (GSA) is a tool that can be used to determine key uncertainties that contribute the most to the variance of the bottom-line objective. It is often the case, however, that GSA is not able to distinguish between the uncertainties. Motivated by this, we propose a new tool called conditional – global sensitivity analysis, which further considers the decision-maker's risk preference. The conditional sensitivity measures ( cGSA up /cGSA down ) quantify the contributions of different individual uncertainty factors to the upper and lower halves of the distribution function of the objective function. It is argued that the use of cGSA up may appeal to a risk-aversive decision maker as it leads to a lower rate of false acceptance decisions at the expense of a higher rate of false rejection decisions, whereas the use cGSA down does the opposite.
Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on URIs and influenza in crowded, urban households.

Objectives.We compared the impact of three household interventions—education, education with alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and education with hand sanitizer and face masks—on incidence and secondar...
La magnetoterapia en el pie

La utilizacion de la magnetoterapia en la practica clinica diaria esta cada vez mas extendida en las consultas de fisioterapia. Cada vez son mas frecuentes las investigaciones y mas amplias y concretas las aplicaciones de la misma tanto en patologia aguda como en patologia cronica. Se trata de una terapia sin apenas contraindicaciones y que aporta muchos beneficios. Ademas se trata de una tecnica muy sencilla de aplicar y con un coste muy asequible para los pacientes.
Effect of scattering and porosity on the apparent absorption in porous biphasic structures—Application to cortical bone

In this in-silico study, the attenuation coefficient in porous structures mimicking simplified cortical bone is calculated both in presence and absence of absorption, to isolate the effect of scattering on attenuation. Pore distributions with various pore concentrations (5–25 pore/mm2) and diameters (40–120 μm) are generated. The propagation of 8 MHz plane waves is simulated using a 2D FDTD package. The attenuation coefficient is measured by fitting the exponential decay of the signal amplitude in the frequency domain during propagation in the absence or presence of absorption (coefficient of 10 dB/cm/MHz to mimic bone tissue), for different pore concentrations and sizes. The difference between total attenuation and scattering attenuation coefficients (obtained with no absorption) is defined as the apparent absorption coefficient. For ka 1, increasing porosity leads to a higher apparent absorption, indicating a higher impact of absorption, even though the absorption coefficient and the overall volume fraction of absorbing material (solid phase) were kept constant. This suggests complex interactions between the wave and the structure, and could be attributed to longer propagation paths in the solid phase due to multiple scattering by the pores.In this in-silico study, the attenuation coefficient in porous structures mimicking simplified cortical bone is calculated both in presence and absence of absorption, to isolate the effect of scattering on attenuation. Pore distributions with various pore concentrations (5–25 pore/mm2) and diameters (40–120 μm) are generated. The propagation of 8 MHz plane waves is simulated using a 2D FDTD package. The attenuation coefficient is measured by fitting the exponential decay of the signal amplitude in the frequency domain during propagation in the absence or presence of absorption (coefficient of 10 dB/cm/MHz to mimic bone tissue), for different pore concentrations and sizes. The difference between total attenuation and scattering attenuation coefficients (obtained with no absorption) is defined as the apparent absorption coefficient. For ka 1, increasing porosity leads to a higher appa...
Multifrequency Phase/Modulation Fluorescence Lifetime Measurements with Ribonuclease T1, Alcohol Dehydrogenase, and Selected Two-Tryptophan Proteins

Here we report frequency domain (10-200 MHz) fluorescence studies of the single-trp containing protein, RNAse T1, and several two-trp proteins, horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase (LADH), yeast 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK), a metalloprotease from Staph. aureus, and ribulose-5-phosphate kinase (RPK) from spinach. We will demonstrate the ability of multi-frequency phase/modulation fluorometry to separate the fluorescence components of these proteins. Table 1 summarizes our findings; below we will comment on the various proteins.
Scarp orientation in regions of active aeolian erosion on Mars

Abstract The morphologies of wind-formed features on Mars provide diagnostic information about ancient and modern surface winds. Aeolian erosional features include decimeter-scale ventifacts and kilometer-scale yardangs, but intermediate-scale erosional features are less well-understood. Understanding aeolian erosion may be critical to identifying ancient martian biosignatures. Cosmogenic radiation destroys complex organic molecules during prolonged exposure at the martian surface, but outcrops freshly re-exposed by aeolian erosion provide potential sites where biosignatures could have been protected and made recently available for sampling. Wind-driven scarp retreat has been cited as the cause for young exposure ages measured in Gale crater. Upcoming exploration by the Mars 2020 rover will focus on Jezero crater, another location of extensive aeolian erosion and meter-scale scarps. This work is motivated by the hypothesis that retreating scarps on Mars may prefer orientations that reflect the direction of erosive winds. We mapped scarps in Jezero and Gale craters and compared their orientation distributions with local wind regimes interpreted from other aeolian indicators. No strong correlation between wind direction and scarp orientation was identified. The near-random distribution of scarp orientations suggests that in the locations studied the dominant processes controlling scarp orientation are either processes that do not prefer an orientation (e.g., impact or thermal fracturing processes), or that turbulent flow structures form at the scale of scarp topography and obscure the regional-scale signals of erosion with scarp-scale eddies and flow deflection.
Up-regulation of paraoxonase 2 in human bronchial epitehlial cells

Background: Obese-asthmatics have worse asthma control and experience higher rates of healthcare utilization. Increasing body mass index in asthmatics has been associated with greater airway oxidative stress and dysfunctional mitochondria. The antioxidant protein paraoxonase 2(PON2) plays an important role in preventing mitochondrial-derived oxidative stress and could therfore have therapeutic potential in these patients. To test this hypothesis we compared levels of PON2 in bronchial epithelial cells of obese-asthmatics and controls and determined the effects of quercetin on PON2 expression and on preventing oxidative stress. Methods: Human bronchial epitheilal cells were obtained from bronchoscopic brushings of obese-asthmatics and control subjects. PON2 were analyzed by western blot and densitometry performed for quantification. To test whether quercetin protects from oxidative stress we exposed those cells to two well-known oxidants; hydrogen peroxide and 1-2 naphthoquinone. After that mitochondrial superoxide and total hydrogen peroxide production were measured. Result: Primary human airway epithelial cells from obese-asthmatics have lower PON2 levels compared to controls. We found in in vitro culture that cells previously treated by quercetin significantly increased PON2 protein levels compared to controls and produced significanlty lower levels of hydrogen peroxide and mitochondrial ROS after the oxidant challengue. Conclusion: Increase in ROS production and mitochondrial dysfunction have been reported in obese and asthmatics; hence increasing PON2 protein levels through quercetin supplementation could be a potential therapeutic strategy to prevent obesity-mediated airway oxidative stress in obese-asthmatics.
Identifying agricultural research and development investment opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa: A global, economy-wide analysis

Poverty is higher in most African countries than elsewhere in the developing world, and highest in the rural areas. Accelerating growth in agriculture will therefore be critical to sustain growth and reduce poverty, but policy makers are unsure which sub-sector will yield the highest return for a given budget. This paper uses an applied general equilibrium model to simulate productivity gains in sub-Saharan agriculture subject to trade-offs between gains in crops and gains in livestock. The simulated results suggest three conclusions. First, most sub-Saharan economies gain more from research and development (R&D) investment in crops than in livestock, though the SACU (South African Customs Union) economies and Madagascar benefit from sharing it between crops and livestock. Second, when R&D is focused on food crops, sharing investment between crops and livestock also benefits other economies. Third, in economies where sharing R&D investment between crops and livestock is beneficial (e.g. Botswana), general economic growth boosts the benefits from R&D investment in livestock.
Algebraic expressions for Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill relaxation dispersion for N-site chemical exchange.

Abstract The Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) NMR relaxation dispersion experiment measures the effective relaxation rate constant during a train of spin-echo pulse sequence elements as a function of the echo time. The CPMG experiment is a powerful method for characterizing chemical and conformational dynamic processes, termed chemical and conformational exchange, on μs-ms time scales, comparable to the experimentally accessible echo times. Approximate theoretical expressions for the effective relaxation rate constant for N-site chemical exchange have been reported (H. Koss, M. Rance, and A. G. Palmer, Biochemistry 57, 4753–4763 (2018)). Expressions for the effective relaxation rate constant have been improved by using the Cayley-Hamilton theorem to obtain simple and accurate approximations of the average Liouvillian for the CPMG experiment. The improved accuracy of the results allows efficient analyses of experimental data. In addition, the relationship is clarified between the approach of Koss and coworkers and that of Jen (1978).
Project Assessment Tools Evaluation and Selection Using the Hierarchical Decision Modeling: Case of State Departments of Transportation in the United States

AbstractA considerable amount of research has been conducted on the performance of project delivery methods and applications in project development within the transportation industry. However, deci...
Constraining Msugra Parameters with μ→eγ and μ-e Conversion in Nuclei

We show that, in the MSSM with msugra boundary conditions and seesaw induced neutrino masses, the values of BR(μ→eγ) and the μ–e conversion rate in a nucleus constrain msugra parameters in a model independent way.
Introduction to the mathematics of finance

Financial markets and derivatives Binomial model Finite market model Black-Scholes model Multi-dimensional Black-Scholes model Conditional expectation and $L^p$-spaces Discrete time stochastic processes Continuous time stochastic processes Brownian motion and stochastic integration Bibliography Index.
Kant on the human standpoint

Introduction Part I. Discussions: 1. Kant's categories and capacity to judge 2. Synthetics, logical forms, and the objects of our ordinary experience 3. Synthetics and givenness Part II. The Human Standpoint in Kant's Transcendental Analytic: 4. Kant on a priori concepts: the metaphysical deduction of the categories 5. Kant's deconstruction of the principle of sufficient reason 6. Kant on causality: what was he trying to prove? 7. Kant's standpoint on the whole: disjunctive judgement, community, and the Third Analogy of Experience Part III. The Human Standpoint in the Critical System: 8. The transcendental ideal, and the unity of the critical system 9. Moral judgement as a judgement of reason 10. Kant's leading thread in the analytic of the beautiful.
How many genes does it take to make a human being

A meeting report from the 13th Annual Cold Spring Harbor meeting on Genome Sequencing and Biology, May 10-14, 2000. Cold Spring Harbor, New York Conference website: http://www.cshl.org/meetings
Role of Bivalent Cations in the Phosphoglucomutase System III. STRUCTURE-FUNCTION RELATIONSHIPS IN THE TERNARY ENZYME-METAL-SUBSTRATE COMPLEX

The formation of catalytically active enzyme·metal·glucose phosphate complexes involving the metal ion series, Zn2+, Co2+, Mg2+, Ni2+, Mn2+, Ca2+, and Cd2+, was studied by means of both ultraviolet difference and solvent perturbation spectroscopy. Metal-specific differences were observed in the three-dimensional structure of these complexes which suggest that the size of a crevice in the enzyme·substrate complex can be either reduced or expanded through binding of the appropriate bivalent metal ion. Furthermore, crevice size can be correlated with enzyme activity: the larger the alteration of crevice size on metal binding the lower the enzymatic activity, whether the change involves reduction or expansion in size. These observations suggest that the metal ion plays a dual role in the phosphoglucomutase system: it serves both as a catalytic entity and as a modifier of enzyme activity through its effect on enzyme structure.
Introduction to Valuation

Every asset, financial as well as real, has a value. The key to successfully investing in and managing these assets lies in understanding not only what the value is but also the sources of the value. Any asset can be valued, but some assets are easier to value than others and the details of valuation will vary from case to case. Thus, the valuation of a share of a real estate property will require different information and follow a different format than the valuation of a publicly traded stock. What is surprising, however, is not the differences in valuation techniques across assets, but the degree of similarity in basic principles. There is undeniably uncertainty associated with valuation. Often, that uncertainty comes from the asset being valued, though the valuation model may add to that uncertainty. Keywords: valuation; valuation process; valuation model; cash flows; fundamental analysts; franchise buyers; chartists; information traders; market timers; efficient marketers; acquisition analysts; corporate finance
An Infrared Search in our Solar System as Part of a More Flexible Search Strategy

One of several explanations for the Fermi Paradox is that the whole Galaxy, including our Solar System, has already been colonized, but that for a variety of reasons the extraterrestrials have chosen not to reveal their presence. In a universal search for extraterrestrial intelligence, it seems prudent to check-out also our own backyard. IRAS has obtained a large volume of infrared data at 12, 25, 60 and 100 microns from which a special working group at JPL, of which the author is a member, is trying to establish a special catalogue of Solar System objects, the vast majority of which are asteroids. A careful search through this data bank for objects with peculiar infrared spectra would be the first step in the search for major artificial objects, such as space stations or materials processing plants, in our Solar System. The asteroid belt is an ideal source of raw materials for space colonies, which could have easily escaped detection lost among the many thousands of natural asteroids. Checking them out for excesses in the infrared is an ideal screening test for artificial objects in our Solar System.
Static and dynamic properties of inhomogeneous elastic media on disordered substrate

The pinning of an inhomogeneous elastic medium by a disordered substrate is studied analytically and numerically. The static and dynamic properties of a $D$-dimensional system are shown to be equivalent to those of the well-known problem of a $D$-dimensional random manifold embedded in $(D+D)$ dimensions. The analogy is found to be very robust, applicable to a wide range of elastic media, including those which are amorphous or nearly periodic, with local or nonlocal elasticity. Also demonstrated explicitly is the equivalence between the dynamic depinning transition obtained at a constant driving force, and the self-organized, near-critical behavior obtained by a (small) constant velocity drive.
High-frequency oscillations in human respiratory electromyograms during voluntary breathing.

Abstract Electromyograms (EMGs) from respiratory muscles were obtained from human subjects during voluntarily controlled breathing. In 10 studies on 6 subjects EMGs were recorded from right and left lower ventrolateral surface of the rib cage while the subject emphasized the use of his diaphragm for breathing. Simultaneous samples of the 2 EMG signals of 256-ms duration were obtained once per inspiration (in either the first or second half of inspiration) from each of 30 consecutive breaths using a laboratory minicomputer. Individual power spectra for the 2 EMG signals, and the squared coherence spectrum between them, were calculated. From the coherence spectrum common high-frequency oscillations could be identified within two frequency ranges: 70–100 Hz and 20–50 Hz. Peaks at similar frequencies were identified in both early-inspiratory and late-inspiratory EMG signals. Similar experiments were done on 3 subjects from whom an esophageal diaphragm EMG was obtained as well. The coherence spectrum between the esophageal EMG and the right rib cage surface EMG again demonstrated the presence of common high-frequency oscillations in the same frequency ranges as above. Evidence of these oscillations was not usually apparent in the power spectra. When ECG signal components were allowed of contaminate some of the EMG data samples, the coherence spectrum could be altered considerably, leading to inappropriate conclusions regarding the presence or absence of high-frequency oscillations. It is hypothesized that these high-frequency oscillations are similar to those described in nerve recordings from previous studies on anesthetized and decerebrate cats and dogs and a mechanism for their expression in EMG signals is proposed. The coherence spectrum is a very sensitive method for detecting related signal components in two signals. That high-frequency oscillations can be detected using the less sensitive techniques of autocorrelation and power spectral analysis in some animal preparations may reflect an enhancement of these oscillations in those preparations.
STRATIFIED VAPOR EXPLOSION EXPERIMENTS

Abstract An experimental investigation has been conducted on vapor explosions in a stratified contact mode, where the cold liquid and the hot liquid are initially separated by a stable vapor film. A series of experiments were conducted in a narrow, rectangular vessel (20 cm long, 2.54 cm wide, 65 cm high). One face of the vessel wall is made of transparent material for the visual observation using a high speed camera. The explosion is externally triggered at the one end of the vapor film layer by a pressure shock produced by a magnetic hammer. Four quartz pressure transducers are mounted horizontally at the vessel wall. The mechanical energy release is measured by the displacement of a slug which is initially held at the middle of the vessel. The results with water (10 ∼ 85°C) and saturated liquid nitrogen (− 196°C) show that the explosion propagates along the vapor film interface at a speed of 100∼250m/s. The mechanical energy release was up to 33 joules. The variation of the triggering shock pressure re...
Intraparticle diffusion and char combustion

Abstract A diffusion and reaction model describing the combustion of porous char particles is developed and used to study the effects of intraparticle diffusional limitations on their pseudo-steady state and dynamic behaviour. The model allows for intraparticle temperature gradients and shrinkage of the reacting particles. Extensive computations over a wide range of ambient temperature and particle size reveal a strong dependence of the ignition and extinction phenomena observed in the combustion of porous particles, and hence of the predicted burning times, on the initial mass transport resistances and on their evolution with the extent of reaction.
Macrophage- and dendritic cell—dependent regulation of human B-cell proliferation requires the TNF family ligand BAFF

Macrophages and dendritic cells play an important role in regulating B-cell responses, including proliferation to antigens such as trinitrophenyl (TNP)-Ficoll and TNP-Brucella abortus. However, the mechanisms and molecule(s) that regulate these processes are relatively undefined. In this report, we show that human macrophages generated in vitro strongly costimulate proliferation of dense human tonsillar B cells ligated via their B-cell antigen receptor (BCR) but not proliferation via CD40. Similarly, dendritic cells also markedly enhance BCR-activated B-cell proliferation. Soluble molecule(s) are required for human macrophages to costimulate proliferation of B cells triggered via their BCR. Importantly, a TACI (trans-membrane activator and CAML interactor)-Fc fusion protein inhibits both macrophage- and dendritic cell (DC)-dependent BCR-activated B-cell proliferation, indicating a requirement for at least one of the known TACI ligands, BAFF and/or APRIL. Consistent with a major role for BAFF, macrophages release BAFF at levels sufficient to potently costimulate BCR-induced B-cell proliferation. In addition, BAFF is more than 100-fold more potent than APRIL in enhancing BCR-mediated human B-cell proliferation. Furthermore, immunodepletion of APRIL under conditions that prevent APRIL-mediated B-cell costimulation does not block macrophage enhancement of B-cell proliferation. Finally, there is no correlation between the high levels of a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) expressed by macrophages compared with DCs and the similar abilities of macrophages and DCs to enhance BCR-stimulated B-cell proliferation. In summary, our results suggest that macrophage- and DC-derived B-cell-activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF) represents a key molecule by which macrophages and DCs directly regulate human B-cell proliferative responses to T-cell-independent stimuli.
The Smith tube: Selection of radar chirp waveform bandwidth and power amplifier load impedance using multiple-bandwidth load-pull measurements

The operation of a radar system requires a trade-off between detection capabilities, power efficiency, and adjacent channel power minimization. Specifically, wide signal bandwidth is important for range detection. This paper presents how load-pull data taken for multiple linear frequency-modulated chirp waveforms with different bandwidths can be used to select the chirp waveform with the largest bandwidth possible, while meeting adjacent-channel power ratio and power-added efficiency requirements. This approach utilizes plots of adjacent-channel power ratio and power-added efficiency surfaces within a Smith tube, a three-dimensional, cylindrical extrapolation of the traditional Smith chart. A measurement example is given to illustrate the design approach. This approach will be useful in the design of range radars, and also is likely to find use in enabling real-time reconfiguration of future radars for varying spectral environments and efficiency requirements.
Angular dependence models for radiance to flux conversion

Angular dependence models (ADM) used for converting the measured radiance to flux at the top of the atmosphere are reviewed, and emphasis is placed on the measure of their effectiveness and the implications of requiring the ADMs to satisfy reciprocity. The overall significance of the ADMs is figured out by analyzing the same satellite data with a single Lambertian model, single mean model, and the 12 Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) ADMs. It is shown that the Lambertian ADM is inadequate, while the mean ADM results in nearly unbiased fluxes but creates substantial differences for individual pixel fluxes. The standard ERBE ADM works well except for a 10-pct to 15-pct albedo growth across the scan; a modified ADM based on the standard ERBE ADM but forced to satisfy the principle of reciprocity increases the limb brightening and reduces the albedo growth but does not improve the scanner and nonscanner intercomparison.
Why Do Deaf Children Score Differently on Performance vs. Motor-Reduced Nonverbal Intelligence Tests?:

Children who are deaf and hard of hearing (DC) and children with normal hearing (HC) have similar Performance IQs. However, DC score lower than HC on motor-reduced nonverbal intelligence tests (e.g., figural matrices tests). The difference between motor-reduced and motor-intensive (i.e., performance) nonverbal tests may be affected by psychomotor speed. This issue was investigated by comparing DC and HC on motor-intensive and motor-reduced nonverbal intelligence tests and on tests of psychomotor speed. Results show similar WISC-III Performance IQs for DC and HC and lower motor-reduced scores (from the Matrix Analogies Test-Short Form) for DC. This similar performance of HC and DC on an experimental motor-intensive nonverbal test, and on psychomotor speed measures, suggests that speed does not influence intelligence test results. We suspect that impulsivity, not speed per se, leads to the difference between motor-intensive and motor-reduced nonverbal test scores.