cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Roles of Infectious Agents in Atherosclerosis and Restenosis An Assessment of the Evidence and Need for Future Research

The past few years have witnessed a resurgence of interest in the possibility that infectious processes may contribute to arterial diseases, including atherosclerosis and restenosis after arterial intervention. The recent recognition that Helicobacter pylori contributes to peptic ulcers illustrates how a disease previously believed to result primarily from excessive gastric acid production often involves a microbial pathogen. Although hypercholesterolemia clearly predisposes to development of coronary heart disease, many patients with arterial pathology have serum cholesterol levels within or below the average range. Coronary heart disease frequently affects individuals who lack other traditional risk factors as well. These findings suggest that heretofore unrecognized risk factors may also contribute to the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease. At a recent Special Emphasis Panel convened by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a number of experts reviewed the evidence for links between infectious processes and atherosclerosis and restenosis. This report will summarize and examine critically the evidence for involvement of infectious agents in arterial diseases based on the deliberations of this expert panel. It will also highlight some of the unanswered questions in this area that may warrant further investigation. Many reports of associations between a wide variety of infectious agents and atherosclerosis have recently appeared. An exhaustive evaluation of each of these purported associations lies beyond the scope of this survey. Rather, we will concentrate particularly on two particular infectious agents, one viral and one bacterial, currently linked with atherogenesis and supported by emerging evidence. Specifically, this report will focus primarily on herpesviruses, particularly cytomegalovirus (CMV), as an example of a viral agent and Chlamydia pneumoniae ( C pneumoniae , also known as the TWAR strain on the basis of its original laboratory designation) as an example of a bacterial pathogen. Although the preponderance of recent studies have examined CMV and Chlamydia , …
Leptin's RIGHT Turn to the Brain Stem

In a paper by Yadav and colleagues, a novel pathway linking the central nervous system effects of leptin on bone mass and energy expenditure to serotonin signaling in brainstem circuits is described. The data from those studies strengthen the tenet that skeletal remodeling is intimately connected to central regulation of metabolism.
Investigating clutter reduction for unmanned systems applications using imaging polarimetry

The proliferation of unmanned systems in recent years has sparked increased interest in multiple areas of research for on-board image processing including autonomous navigation, surveillance, detection, and tracking to name a few. For these applications, techniques for reducing scene clutter provide an increased level of robustness for autonomous systems and reduced operator burden for tele-operated systems. Because imaging polarimetry frequently provides complementary information to the standard radiometric image, it is anticipated that this technology is well suited to provide a significant reduction in scene clutter. In this paper, the authors investigate the use of imaging polarimetry under a number of representative scenarios to assess the utility of this technology for unmanned system applications.
An empirical comparison of the Tucker-Messick and INDSCAL models: Measuring viewpoints about transit attributes

Abstract This investigation sought (1) to identify perceptually homogenous respondent groups by two individual differences scaling models initially proposed by Tucker and Messick, and Carroll and Chang, (2) to reveal the significance of group percepts with respect to anticipated satisfactions and socio-economic and activity pattern characteristics of group members, and (3) to test empirically the significance of formal distinctions between the two individual differences models. The study utilized judgments about 12 transit attributes of three innovative urban, public transportation modes from a sample of 243 respondents. It was possible to specify seven perceptually homogenous groups, which were distinct in terms of a qualitative analysis of their perceptual spaces and a quantitative convergent-discriminant validity analysis predicated on the distances between pairs of attributes in their spaces. The perceptual groups were shown to have interpretable links to socio-economic and activity pattern characteristics of the respondents. In addition, it was possible to statistically account for the satisfaction ratings of the respondents by the dimensions of their corresponding spaces. Since the Tucker-Messick model was shown to derive more distinct spaces for the separate groups than the INDSCAL model of Carroll and Chang, the Tucker-Messick spaces more uniquely tied a group's percepts to its corresponding satisfactions.
Atypical Cellular Disorders

Atypical cellular disorders are commonly considered part of the gray zone linking oncology to hematology and immunology. Although these disorders are relatively uncommon, they often represent significant clinical problems, provide an opportunity to understand basic disease mechanisms, and serve as model systems for the development of novel targeted therapies. This chapter focuses on such disorders. In Section I, Dr. Arceci discusses the pathogenesis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) in terms of the hypothesis that this disorder represents an atypical myeloproliferative syndrome. The clinical manifestations and treatment of LCH in children and adults is discussed along with possible future therapeutic approaches based upon biological considerations. In Section II, Dr. Longley considers the molecular changes in the c-Kit receptor that form the basis of mastocytosis. Based on the location and function of c-Kit mutations, he develops a paradigm for the development of specific, targeted therapies. In Section III, Dr. Emanuel provides a review of the "mixed myeloproliferative and myelodysplastic disorders," including novel therapeutic approaches based on aberrant pathogenetic mechanisms. Taken together, these chapters should provide an overview of the biological basis for these disorders, their clinical manifestations, and new therapeutic approaches.
Use of purse-string suture technique in closure of flesh tunnel defects of the bilateral earlobes.

Flesh tunnels are devices of various sizes and shapes used to expand tissue through a pierced site (Figure 1). The ear lobes are the most common location for placement of flesh tunnels, but other areas may be subject. After prolonged placement of these devices, the tissue can be stretched several times its normal size, resulting in increased elasticity and pliability. Unfortunately, after removal of these devices, the tissue does not revert to its original size and shape, often leaving a deformity. Correction of the defect can be difficult and disappointing and may lead to patient dissatisfaction. The authors describe a novel use of purse-string sutures in partially closing bilateral earlobe flesh tunnel defects.
GOBLET CELLS SECRETION AND MUCOGENESIS

In the final discussions of the last Ciba Symposium on Mucus and Mucosa (London, 1984), I voiced my impression that, in this gelatinous drama of mucus formation, several scripts were looking for characters, and some characters were looking for roles. Now, four years later, we have been able to locate a few of the missing characters and see them play their parts. Some, like the serous cell, are telling a potentially fascinating new story. A new polymer thread is being tentatively introduced into this already tangled scene of the mucus matrix (see review by Basbaum, this volume). Other cells, like goblet cells, are sticking to their old role of producing mucin, but are giving up some of their best-guarded secrets on how to store and release such gigantic molecules. We are also starting to realize that perhaps some charac­ ters can play not one, but several roles at the same time. For instance, mucous cells in vitro can not only produce mucin, but can also produce proteoglycans. Are we hearing the true scripts? Or is the culture shock, the isolation of these cells from their natural habitat, forcing them to play subsidiary roles? The whole picture of airway physiology is rapidly changing. Much remains to be learned, including perhaps the painful lesson that some of our most cherished passages in the old play are being swiftly rewritten. The mucosa of the airways is an organ. Its overall function results from the integrated action of several types of effector cells. Although the organ's
An international program for collecting samples of surface‐water from the Columbia River to the Bering Sea

The Oceanographic Laboratories of the University of Washington has enlisted the aid of the Lighthouse Service of Alaska in cooperating in a program for procuring daily temperatures and samples of surface sea-water at the five watched lights along the outside coast of Alaska. At present, surface temperatures and samples are taken daily at Swiftsure and Umatilla, the seaward entrance of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the program calls for similar data to be taken at the Columbia River Light Vessel. The Biological Board of Canada has had a similar program in operation for more than three years, daily, temperatures and samples being secured at seven lighthouses along the outside of Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands. Such close cooperation exists between the Pacific Biological Station and the Oceanographic Laboratories of the University of Washington that this amounts to a unified program for the study of inshore waters from the mouth of the Columbia to the Bering Sea, a distance of 2000 miles.
Finite-element analysis of tubular fabric beams including pressure effects and local fabric wrinkling

Pressurized beams made from synthetic fibers that are woven or braided into a circular cross-section are used as main load-carrying members in a variety of terrestrial and space structures. This paper focuses on the development of a Timoshenko beam finite element for the nonlinear load-deflection analysis of pressurized fabric beams, and the numerical examination of the effect of pressure on beam load-deflection behavior. The basis of the element formulation is an incremental virtual work expression that explicitly includes the work done by pressure under deformation-induced volume changes. The inability of the fabric to carry significant compressive stress is accommodated with a nonlinear moment-curvature relationship. Details of the element development and solution methodology are provided. Parametric studies that demonstrate the importance of including work done by pressure and wrinkling-induced moment-curvature nonlinearity in the formulation are described. These studies indicate that not only does beam stiffness increase with inflation pressure, but work done by pressure increases the beam bending capacity well beyond the theoretical limiting value. Further, accurate prediction of the nonlinear load-displacement response requires the inclusion of work done by pressure due to both shear and bending deformations.
Chemisorption states of ionic lattices

Abstract A method for computing the chemisorption states of ionic lattices is presented in which the dominant interaction between the adsorbent and the adsorbate is a Madelung-type potential. The results describe quite well the chemisorption of oxygen on stable surfaces of ZnO and CdS. The same technique is used to establish a criterion for the stability of ionic surfaces.
A neuroprosthesis for control of seated balance after spinal cord injury.

Background A major desire of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) is the ability to maintain a stable trunk while in a seated position. Such stability is invaluable during many activities of daily living (ADL) such as regular work in the home and office environments, wheelchair propulsion and driving a vehicle. Functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS) has the ability to restore function to paralyzed muscles by application of measured low-level currents to the nerves serving those muscles.
Parallel metatranscriptome analyses of host and symbiont gene expression in the gut of the termite Reticulitermes flavipes.

Background Termite lignocellulose digestion is achieved through a collaboration of host plus prokaryotic and eukaryotic symbionts. In the present work, we took a combined host and symbiont metatranscriptomic approach for investigating the digestive contributions of host and symbiont in the lower termite Reticulitermes flavipes. Our approach consisted of parallel high-throughput sequencing from (i) a host gut cDNA library and (ii) a hindgut symbiont cDNA library. Subsequently, we undertook functional analyses of newly identified phenoloxidases with potential importance as pretreatment enzymes in industrial lignocellulose processing.
The Effects of a Local Interstellar Magnetic Field on Voyager 1 and 2 Observations

We show that an interstellar magnetic field can produce a north-south asymmetry in the solar wind termination shock. Using Voyager 1 and 2 measurements, we suggest that the angle α between the interstellar wind velocity and the magnetic field is 30° < α < 60°. The distortion of the shock is such that termination shock particles could have streamed outward along the spiral interplanetary magnetic field connecting Voyager 1 to the shock when the spacecraft was within ~2 AU of the shock. The shock distortion is larger in the southern hemisphere, and Voyager 2 could be connected to the shock when it is within ~5 AU of the shock, but with particles from the shock streaming inward along the field. Tighter constraints on the interstellar magnetic field should be possible when Voyager 2 crosses the shock in the next several years.
Viral-based gene delivery and regulated gene expression for targeted cancer therapy.

Importance of the field: Cancer is both a major health concern and a care-cost issue in the US and the rest of the world. It is estimated that there will be a total of 1,479,350 new cancer cases and 562,340 cancer deaths in 2009 within the US alone. One of the major obstacles in cancer therapy is the ability to target specifically cancer cells. Most existing chemotherapies and other routine therapies (such as radiation therapy and hormonal manipulation) use indiscriminate approaches in which both cancer cells and non-cancerous surrounding cells are treated equally by the toxic treatment. As a result, either the cancer cell escapes the toxic dosage necessary for cell death and consequently resumes replication, or an adequate lethal dose that kills the cancer cell also causes the cancer patient to perish. Owing to this dilemma, cancer- or organ/tissue-specific targeting is greatly desired for effective cancer treatment and the reduction of side effect cytotoxicity within the patient.Areas covered in this re...
Analog piezoelectric-driven tunable gratings with nanometer resolution

This work presents the design, fabrication, and characterization of a piezoelectrically actuated MEMS diffractive optical grating, whose spatial periodicity can be tuned in analog fashion to within a fraction of a nanometer. The fine control of the diffracted beams permits applications in dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) optical telecommunications and high-resolution miniaturized spectrometers. The design concept consists of a diffractive grating defined on a deformable membrane, strained in the direction perpendicular to the gratings grooves via thin-film piezoelectric actuators. The tunable angular range for the first diffracted order is up to 400 /spl mu/rad with 0.2% strain (/spl sim/8 nm change in grating periodicity) at 10 V actuation, as predicted by device modeling. The actuators demonstrate a piezoelectric d/sub 31/ coefficient of -100 pC/N and dielectric constant /spl epsiv//sub r/ of 1200. Uniformity across the tunable grating and the out-of-plane deflections are also characterized and discussed.
Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 episomal cDNA in semen.

Background: Episomal 2-long terminal repeat (LTR) HIV-1 cDNA, a by-product of HIV-1 infection, is used in clinical trials as a marker for ongoing viral replication. It would be useful to employ 2-LTR cDNA to monitor cryptic HIV-1 infection in the genital tract of men on antiretroviral therapy (ART) to predict the evolution of sexually transmissible drug-resistant HIV1, but studies thus far have failed to detect this marker in semen. The objectives of this study were: 1) to use a technique that maximizes DNA recovery from HIV-1 infected white blood cells in semen to determine if episomal 2-LTR cDNA is detectable in semen of ART-naive men with other evidence of genital tract HIV-1 infection, and 2) to compare levels of HIV-1 2-LTR cDNA, RNA, and proviral DNA in semen from HIV-1+ men on ART. Results: Using a somatic cell DNA extraction technique, 2-LTR cDNA was detected by PCR/ ELISA in 4 out of 8 semen samples from ART-naive men selected for other signs of seminal HIV-1 infection (positive controls). Southern blot and DNA sequencing confirmed that the amplified sequences were HIV-1 2-LTR cDNA; copy numbers ranged from 55 to 504 copies/sample. Two semen samples from a cohort of 22 HIV-1-infected men on dual nucleoside therapy, one with and one without detectable seminal HIV-1 RNA, were 2-LTR cDNA positive (336 and 8,560 copies/ sample). Following addition of indinavir to the therapy regimen, no semen samples from 21 men with controlled peripheral and seminal viral loads were 2-LTR cDNA positive at 1 and 6 month time points, despite the persistence of HIV-1 proviral DNA+ semen cells and seminal cytomegalovirus (CMV) shedding in some cases. However, one individual who failed indinavir therapy and later developed distinct protease inhibitor (PI) drug resistance mutations in semen, maintained elevated levels of HIV-1 RNA and 2-LTR cDNA in semen. Conclusion: 2-LTR HIV-1 cDNA is detectable in semen of HIV-1-infected men. Two men on ART had 2-LTR HIV-1 cDNA in semen, suggesting that this marker may prove to be useful to monitor HIV-1 infection in the genital tract of men on ART to predict the evolution of drug resistance mutations in semen.
Predicting the Spinel–Nepheline Liquidus for Application to Nuclear Waste Glass Processing. Part I: Primary Phase Analysis, Liquidus Measurment, and Quasicrystalline Approach

The crystal–melt equilibria in complex 15 component simulated high-level waste (HLW) glass melts are modeled on the basis of quasicrystalline concepts. A pseudobinary phase diagram between a transition metal ferrite spinel (an incongruent melt product of transition metal iron-rich acmite) and nepheline is defined in Part II on the basis of these concepts. The pseudobinary lies within the Al2O3–Fe2O3–Na2O–SiO2 quaternary system that defines the crystallization of basalt glass melts. Part I defines the complex transition metal species that crystallize in waste glasses, the role of the octahedral site preference energies, the evidence for quasicrystalline clustering in waste glasses, and the potential quasicrystalline exchange reactions at the liquidus. The liquidus model developed on the basis of these concepts has been used to prevent unwanted crystallization in the world's largest HLW melter for the past 4 years while allowing >10 wt% higher waste loadings to be processed.
Evolution of leaf form correlates with tropical–temperate transitions in Viburnum (Adoxaceae)

Strong latitudinal patterns in leaf form are well documented in floristic comparisons and palaeobotanical studies. However, there is little agreement about their functional significance; in fact, it is still unknown to what degree these patterns were generated by repeated evolutionary adaptation. We analysed leaf form in the woody angiosperm clade Viburnum (Adoxaceae) and document evolutionarily correlated shifts in leafing habit, leaf margin morphology, leaf shape and climate. Multiple independent shifts between tropical and temperate forest habitats have repeatedly been accompanied by a change between evergreen, elliptical leaves with entire margins and deciduous, more rounded leaves with toothed or lobed margins. These consistent shifts in Viburnum support repeated evolutionary adaptation as a major determinant of the global correlation between leaf form and mean annual temperature. Our results provide a new theoretical grounding for the inference of past climates using fossil leaf assemblages.
An alternative to traditional software rehosting

This paper describes one alternative to rehosting TPS software to newer computer platforms. It describes the solution that Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) used to solve a problem with re-engineering legacy software into a modern object-oriented language. The advantages gained by this method are more advanced instruction to the operator (such as pictures and movies), flexible reporting scheme to diagnose system problems, and ease of software maintenance. This solution uses commercially available products including National Instruments/sup /spl trade// TestStand/sup /spl trade// and LabVIEW/sup /spl trade// and Microsoft/spl reg/ Visual Basic/spl reg/. The system is a four-tiered architecture to drive all test execution. The user interface is written in Visual Basic and allows the user to interact with the test execution when needed. This user interface in turn calls tests that are written in TestStand, and finally the individual tests call driver functions written in LabVIEW. A database serves as a repository for all test results, displays, and test limits. The use of this database allows for easy querying of measurement data to analyze trends in failures that help diagnose specific problems. By using this database, all test limits and test displays are contained in one central location that enables engineers to change these displays and limits on the fly without needing to change or even understand any test code. One other benefit of this data containment is that all government classified data is separated out of the code and stored as one file, instead of in various locations as it was in the original source code.
Toward optimal selection of feature clusters

In microarray data analysis, the large number of equally predictive gene sets and the disparity among them reveals the gap between necessary genes for accurate models and candidate genes for biomarkers. We propose to bridge this gap by a new learning task, feature cluster selection, which aims to select all relevant features in a data set and group them into coherent clusters. We provide problem definitions and an empirical solution to feature cluster selection. Experiments on microarray data show that our proposed solution can select highly predictive representative gene sets and discover gene clusters with statistical significance.
Ectopic pancreas presenting as an umbilical mass.

This report describes the first known case of isolated ectopic pancreatic tissue presenting as an umbilical mass.
Study of the Operators \(\tilde{F}_{i}, \ \tilde{E}_{i}\ {\rm on}\ {\Lambda}_{\lambda}\)

18.1.1. In this chapter we assume that the root datum is Y-regular. Let λ ∈ X+. As in 3.5.6, we set \(\Lambda _{\rm{\lambda }} = {\rm{f/}}\sum _{\rm{i}} f\theta _i^{\left\langle {i,\lambda } \right\rangle + 1} \). Since λ will be fixed in this chapter, we shall write Λ instead of Λλ. As in 3.5.7, we denote the image of 1 ∈ f by η ∈ Λ.
Novel Microporous Membrane-Based Separation Processes for Pollution Control and Waste Minimization

Multiphase equilibrium-based processes for separation and purification generally utilize dispersed systems in which one phase is dispersed in the other as bubbles or drops or thin films. Using microporous membranes, novel techniques have been developed such that multiphase processes can now be carried out in a nondispersive fashion for gas-liquid (Sirkar, 1992) and liquid-liquid (Prasad and Sirkar, 1992) contacting processes. Among such processes, only nondispersive solvent extraction of pollutants using microporous membranes will be of concern here. These processes employ immobilized immiscible phase interfaces at the pore mouths in a microporous membrane. Through such interfaces, solutes are extracted into the solvent as two immiscible phases flow on two sides of a microporous membrane. Many advantages of such a technique over conventional extractors have been summarized (Prasad and Sirkar, 1992).
The Cornerstone of Change: Lessons from a School Reform Initiative

Developed in 1999, the Cornerstone Literacy Initiative is a school-based reform initiative for low performing, high-poverty elementary schools. The reform aims to improve student literacy by providing intensive professional development to teachers over the course of the four-year implementation period. The goal is to change instructional practice, school leadership, and school culture using literacy as the vehicle. This paper draws on lessons from Cornerstone's experiences over the past eight years. It describes the Cornerstone reform model and the population it serves and explores the ways in which the Cornerstone model has shifted to accommodate lessons from its work. To provide a national context for the Cornerstone Initiative, the report considers the evolution of literacy instruction in the United States and the literature about comprehensive school reform. The report concludes by describing how Cornerstone's experience contributes to what we know about improving literacy, student performance and school reform.
Input and output comparison between alfalfa and its competitive crops

Based on the survey data of farmers who planted alfalfa,wheat,corn and potato in forage planting areas,an analysis of input and output of alfalfa and its competitive crops was made in this study.The results indicated that,alfalfa could bring a good economic benefit to farmers,and its potential benefit was also great.The significant factors that influenced the production of alfalfa and crops were put forward,through making the input-output models of alfalfa,wheat and corn,and analyzing their elasticity of factors.Besides,some comments and suggestions were put forward in this study.
Effects of lateral flow to the missile vertical launched from a submarine

A computer model was developed to analyze the effects of lateral flow on the vertical launching missile from a submarine.The simplified model is a time-dependent,three freedom,motion equations for a rigid missile.The adapters are treted as nonlinear springs.How the loads and motion parameters of submarine vertically launched missile under the lateral flow are affected by launching conditions such as submarine velocity,adapter rigidity and missile velocity in upright motion is studied by the establishing and solving the missile motion equations.The research is helpful for the design and tests of missile vertical launching system
Effects of Initial Feed Timing on Early Survival and Growth of Triploid Hatchery Rainbow Trout

AbstractThe timing of initial feeding for trout fry varies greatly among hatchery professionals and may affect early survival and growth. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a number of days posthatch to begin feeding triploid hatchery Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss where they will experience the least mortality and most favorable growth rates. Treatment groups of triploid Rainbow Trout fry were fed for 30 d with initial feeding times of 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, and 25 d posthatch on 12.2°C water. Variations in survival, condition factor, size, and feed conversions between initial feed times were evaluated. The number of days posthatch prior to initial feeding did not have a significant impact on survival. The growth parameters measured showed significant variation depending on days posthatch prior to initial feeding, with the most favorable growth parameters found at 21 and 25 d posthatch.Received October 29, 2015; accepted February 13, 2016 Published online June 15, 2016
Constitutive Modeling of Inelastic Single Crystals for Localization Phenomena

The main objective of the present paper is the constitutive modelling of inelastic single crystals. A constitutive model is developed within the thermodynamic framework of the rate type covariance constitutive structure and takes account of the effects as follows: (i) thermomechanical coupling; (ii) influence of covariant terms, lattice deformations and rotations and plastic spin; (iii) dislocation substructure; (iv) rate sensitivity (viscosity).
Étude dans la vraie vie du profil des patients hospitalisés pour insuffisance cardiaque aiguë en Vendée : l’étude Ovica

But de l’etude Completer les connaissances epidemiologiques, la prise en charge et les donnees cliniques de l’insuffisance cardiaque aigue dans la vraie vie a l’echelle departementale (Vendee). Methode et resultats Etude monocentrique, observationnelle et prospective menee sur une journee incluant exhaustivement tous les patients, presentant de l’insuffisance cardiaque aigue sur les sites du centre hospitalier departemental de Vendee. Un total de 52 patients ont ete inclus sur une journee (âge moyen 82 ans 56 % d’homme). Cinquante et un patients sont passes par le service des urgences ou un service mobile d’urgence et de reanimation (SMUR) avant d’etre hospitalises. Trente patients ont ete hospitalises hors service de cardiologie. Le principal facteur declenchant est l’infection dans 18 cas et la fibrillation auriculaire dans 9 cas. La duree de sejour est de 13,5 jours. Il y a eu 3 deces. La fraction d’ejection ventriculaire gauche est preservee dans 52 % des cas. Le traitement quand la FEVG ≤ 40 % (15 patients) contient des betabloquants, des IEC/ARA2 et de l’antialdosterone a l’entree respectivement dans 3, 6 et 3 cas et a la sortie dans 10, 7 et 3 cas. Conclusions Cette etude dans la vraie vie montre la place de plus en plus importante que prend l’insuffisance cardiaque a fraction d’ejection preservee, le decalage entre les recommandations et la prise en charge (faible taux de traitement optimal), la difficulte a mettre en place un parcours de soins efficace pour prendre en charge ces patients.
Instrumentation In The Clinical Engineering Curriculum

Expertise in electronic instrumentation is the core of a clinical engineer’s technical training. Because he must often serve as a resource for the staff members working under him, both the depth and currency of his engineering knowledge are critically important. Furthermore, in his management role, the clinical engineer must be able to assess subtle differences between competing technical proposals.
Fighting words? Joning as conflict talk and identity performance among African American preadolescents

This study examines how preadolescent African American students in Washington, D.C., used a linguistic practice called ‘joning,’ a style of verbal play similar to ritual insults, in peer interactions. Sociolinguists have focused on how children socialize each other into vernacular styles appropriate for peer group use but often assume that they disalign with social and linguistic norms for classroom behavior. Drawing from a nine-month ethnographic study that the author conducted in an after-school program, this article analyzes the structure and function of joning as a vernacular style of African American Vernacular English and its uses in constructing classroom identities. Joning often facilitated student learning, but it was perceived as a socially and physically risky linguistic practice because of its uses as conflict talk in the local community. Focusing on preadolescence as a key stage of language socialization, this article shows how minority students modify peer-learned linguistic practices to pursue academic success on their own terms.
Implementation of next generation sequencing into pediatric hematology-oncology practice: moving beyond actionable alterations

Molecular characterization has the potential to advance the management of pediatric cancer and high-risk hematologic disease. The clinical integration of genome sequencing into standard clinical practice has been limited and the potential utility of genome sequencing to identify clinically impactful information beyond targetable alterations has been underestimated. The Precision in Pediatric Sequencing (PIPseq) Program at Columbia University Medical Center instituted prospective clinical next generation sequencing (NGS) for pediatric cancer and hematologic disorders at risk for treatment failure. We performed cancer whole exome sequencing (WES) of patient-matched tumor-normal samples and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of tumor to identify sequence variants, fusion transcripts, relative gene expression, and copy number variation (CNV). A directed cancer gene panel assay was used when sample adequacy was a concern. Constitutional WES of patients and parents was performed when a constitutionally encoded disease was suspected. Results were initially reviewed by a molecular pathologist and subsequently by a multi-disciplinary molecular tumor board. Clinical reports were issued to the ordering physician and posted to the patient’s electronic medical record. NGS was performed on tumor and/or normal tissue from 101 high-risk pediatric patients. Potentially actionable alterations were identified in 38% of patients, of which only 16% subsequently received matched therapy. In an additional 38% of patients, the genomic data provided clinically relevant information of diagnostic, prognostic, or pharmacogenomic significance. RNA-seq was clinically impactful in 37/65 patients (57%) providing diagnostic and/or prognostic information for 17 patients (26%) and identified therapeutic targets in 15 patients (23%). Known or likely pathogenic germline alterations were discovered in 18/90 patients (20%) with 14% having germline alternations in cancer predisposition genes. American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) secondary findings were identified in six patients. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of incorporating clinical NGS into pediatric hematology-oncology practice. Beyond the identification of actionable alterations, the ability to avoid ineffective/inappropriate therapies, make a definitive diagnosis, and identify pharmacogenomic modifiers is clinically impactful. Taking a more inclusive view of potential clinical utility, 66% of cases tested through our program had clinically impactful findings and samples interrogated with both WES and RNA-seq resulted in data that impacted clinical decisions in 75% of cases.
Did community greening reduce crime? Evidence from New Haven, CT, 1996-2007.

Abstract For some volunteers, neighborhood safety is one of the reasons for becoming involved in community greening. For example, many volunteers of the Community Greenspace program at the Urban Resources Initiative in New Haven, Connecticut believe that there is a potential reduction in crime from community greening activities, even though it is not an explicit goal of the program. These types of community-led interventions are distinct from both existing tree canopy and large-scale municipally led initiatives. These types of interventions remain understudied with respect to the potential for reducing crime. We therefore used a quasi-experimental difference-in-differences (DID) approach to test whether more than a decade of street tree planting (1996–2007) in New Haven had an effect on crime levels at planting sites (n = 300) compared to control sites that received no Community Greenspace-planted trees (n = 893). We examined violent, property, and misdemeanor crimes (comprised of vandalism, prostitution, and narcotics crimes) individually and jointly to test for crime-type specific effects, while controlling for sociodemographic factors and spatio-temporal trends. In general, we found a null relationship between trees planted and crime on block faces per year at the p
NHS-Esters As Versatile Reactivity-Based Probes for Mapping Proteome-Wide Ligandable Hotspots.

Most of the proteome is considered undruggable, oftentimes hindering translational efforts for drug discovery. Identifying previously unknown druggable hotspots in proteins would enable strategies for pharmacologically interrogating these sites with small molecules. Activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) has arisen as a powerful chemoproteomic strategy that uses reactivity-based chemical probes to map reactive, functional, and ligandable hotspots in complex proteomes, which has enabled inhibitor discovery against various therapeutic protein targets. Here, we report an alkyne-functionalized N-hydroxysuccinimide-ester (NHS-ester) as a versatile reactivity-based probe for mapping the reactivity of a wide range of nucleophilic ligandable hotspots, including lysines, serines, threonines, and tyrosines, encompassing active sites, allosteric sites, post-translational modification sites, protein interaction sites, and previously uncharacterized potential binding sites. Surprisingly, we also show that fragment-ba...
When Dual Incentives Become Dueling: Public Health Consequences of Responsiveness to Pro-Life Sentiment

Those elected into office are tasked with the dual responsibilities of representing public preferences as well as taking a leadership role in defense of the public health and safety of their electorate. What are the consequences when public opinion is in tension with public health interests? Looking within the context of women's health, over which there has been extensive federal and state-level activism resulting in numerous state-level constraints on access, I address the public health consequences of abortion clinic access in the states between the years of 2008 and 2013, relying on health outcomes measures provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Kaiser Family Foundation. I find that greater access to clinics is strongly associated with reductions in cases of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV diagnoses, the teen birth rate, and reliance upon emergency room as opposed to outpatient care. The results suggest that investment in these services have public health consequences including but extending far beyond the domain of abortion, such that responsiveness to pro-life sentiment in the states may come with adverse health and economic consequences.
Joint TX and feedback RX IQ mismatch compensation for integrated direct conversion transmitters

The direct conversion (DC) architecture has been adopted for wireless base-station transceivers due to its cost and area efficiency. The shortcomings of DC transceivers need to be overcome to meet their high performance requirements. In-phase (I) and quadrature phase (Q) mismatch is one of most significant impairments. This paper presents an integrated, on-line mismatch compensation system which calibrates frequency-dependent transmitter (TX) and feedback receiver (FBRX) IQ mismatches using the digital TX signal as a reference. The proposed method was fabricated in 45nm CMOS technology. Measurements show 60 dBc TX ACPR for 20MHz LTE low-IF signals. TX EVM of 0.8% is achieved with 20MHz zero-IF LTE signals.
A daily diary investigation of the influence of early family adversity on social functioning during the transition to adulthood

Early life stressors are associated with maladaptive social functioning in childhood and adolescence, but it is unclear whether and how the negative interpersonal effects of stress persist into adulthood. Daily diary surveys were used to examine young adults' social behavior and mood reactivity to social stressors as a function of experiences of early family adversity. Stressful early family environments predicted more daily reassurance seeking, but not aggression, withdrawal, or positive social behavior. Early family adversity also moderated the within-person effects of social stressors on next-day mood, such that individuals with high levels of adversity had elevated next-day negative affect in response to higher than average social stress. Findings highlight the enduring impact of early adversity on social development, with implications for developing targeted policies and interventions.
Descriptive inquiry: cultivating practical wisdom with teachers

Teaching is a complex task that requires that the teacher be skilled at responding effectively and ethically to unexpected situations. Many have linked a teacher’s facility in the classroom to Aris...
Thermoacoustic instability in solid media

The exploration of thermoacoustic oscillations can be traced back to the 19th century when Sondhauss (1850) performed an experimental investigation that marked the birth of modern thermoacoustic research. Since then, several practical applications of the basic thermoacoustic effect were explored and ultimately led to the design of engineering devices such as heat engines or refrigerators. This fascinating mechanism was believed to occur only in fluids while our study shows theoretical and numerical evidence of the existence of thermoacoustic oscillations also in solid media. Although this mechanism shares common aspects with the more familiar thermoacoustics of fluids, our analysis shows that the underlying physical mechanism presents some important and non-trivial differences with the traditional theory. The discovery and validation of this mechanism may lead to new ideas enabling the development of the next generation of ultra-compact and robust solid-state thermoacoustic devices for direct thermal-to-mechanical energy conversion, and vice versa.The exploration of thermoacoustic oscillations can be traced back to the 19th century when Sondhauss (1850) performed an experimental investigation that marked the birth of modern thermoacoustic research. Since then, several practical applications of the basic thermoacoustic effect were explored and ultimately led to the design of engineering devices such as heat engines or refrigerators. This fascinating mechanism was believed to occur only in fluids while our study shows theoretical and numerical evidence of the existence of thermoacoustic oscillations also in solid media. Although this mechanism shares common aspects with the more familiar thermoacoustics of fluids, our analysis shows that the underlying physical mechanism presents some important and non-trivial differences with the traditional theory. The discovery and validation of this mechanism may lead to new ideas enabling the development of the next generation of ultra-compact and robust solid-state thermoacoustic devices for direct thermal-to-m...
Replication and Incompatibility Functions in Mini-F Plasmids

One common approach to building a model for plasmid maintenance is to identify, map and characterize the genes involved in this process. The two major features of maintenance are plasmid replication and partitioning to daughter cells. As depicted elsewhere in this text, the essential components of replication appear to be at least a fixed origin of replication (ori), one to two plasmid-specified gene products for replication (rep) and a copy number control gene (cop) that appears to exert negative control. So too, plasmid F, the classic conjugal plasmid of Escherichia coli, appears to fit this general model of replication. However, F may have a more complex genetic organization for this process than other plasmids.
The Effects of Announcing Dreams: An Investigation of Pregnant Women's Perceived Communication with Their Unborn

Announcing dreams are one type of extraordinary dream reported by pregnant women that is not well understood. The focus of this study was to examine how announcing dreams affect pregnant women. Twenty-two pregnant volunteers completed an online questionnaire about their announcing dream experience. Within this sample, announcing dreams took place most often in the first trimester of pregnancy, were reported to be significant by 73% of participants, and were shared with others by 85% of the participants. Thematic analysis revealed 12 themes: emotions, confidence and affirmation, bonding and connection, birth, hospitals and health-care professionals, husband/partner, dream settings, breastfeeding, catastrophe, lucidity, decision-making regarding the pregnancy, and prediction of sex. Lucidity was reported by 10 participants, yet only two of these reports showed the hallmarks of lucidity. Five dream reports included predictions of the child’s sex.
High Growth, Innovation, and Business Accelerators:Differences Between Women- and Men-led Ventures

The high growth women’s entrepreneurship represents an under-researched area in the literature. This paper empirically investigates differences between women- and men-owned high growth ventures and...
What in the world are surface plasmons

Despite its scary name, a surface plasmon is simply an inhomogeneous plane-wave solution to Maxwell's equations. Typically, a medium with a large but negative dielectric constant e is a good host for surface plasmons. Because in an isotropic medium having refractive index n and absorption coefficient κ we have e = ( n + i κ ), whenever κ ≫ n the above criterion, large but negative e , is approximately satisfied; as a result, most common metals such as aluminum, gold, and silver can exhibit resonant absorption by surface plasmon excitation. In order to excite, within a metal, a plane wave that has a large enough amplitude to carry away a significant fraction of the incident optical energy, one must create a situation whereby the metal is “forced” to accept such a wave; otherwise, as normally occurs, the wave within the metal ends up having a small amplitude, causing nearly all of the incident energy to be reflected, diffracted, or scattered from the metallic surface, depending upon the condition of that surface. In this chapter several practical situations in which surface plasmons play a role will be presented. We begin by describing the results of an experiment that can be readily set up in any optics laboratory, and we give an explanation of the observed phenomenon by scrutinizing the well-known Fresnel's reflection formula at a metal-to-air interface.
Highly selective ultraviolet aluminum plasmonic filters on silicon.

We report the use of aluminum patterning to make highly selective UV bandpass filters. We design and fabricate a periodic array of nanoholes in Al thin film on a bare silicon substrate as an analog for potential integration with a Si photodetector. Arrays were designed to operate in the wavelength range of 200–400 nm. Our results show that we can obtain a single dominant peak filter with a linewidth of 30 nm at normal incidence, in contrast to similar structures on glass substrates, where multiple modes influence the UV spectrum. Varying the angle of incidence is shown to split the plasmonic mode and further decrease the linewidth of the maximum wavelength mode down to 10 nm. Our results therefore show high potential for applications in solid-state image sensors for astronomy and planetary studies.
Alternative Splicing of Presynaptic Neurexins Differentially Controls Postsynaptic NMDA and AMPA Receptor Responses

Summary AMPA- and NMDA-type glutamate receptors mediate distinct postsynaptic signals that differ characteristically among synapses. How postsynaptic AMPA- and NMDA-receptor levels are regulated, however, remains unclear. Using newly generated conditional knockin mice that enable genetic control of neurexin alternative splicing, we show that in hippocampal synapses, alternative splicing of presynaptic neurexin-1 at splice site 4 (SS4) dramatically enhanced postsynaptic NMDA-receptor-mediated, but not AMPA-receptor-mediated, synaptic responses without altering synapse density. In contrast, alternative splicing of neurexin-3 at SS4 suppressed AMPA-receptor-mediated, but not NMDA-receptor-mediated, synaptic responses, while alternative splicing of neurexin-2 at SS4 had no effect on NMDA- or AMPA-receptor-mediated responses. Presynaptic overexpression of the neurexin-1β and neurexin-3β SS4+ splice variants, but not of their SS4− splice variants, replicated the respective SS4+ knockin phenotypes. Thus, different neurexins perform distinct nonoverlapping functions at hippocampal synapses that are independently regulated by alternative splicing. These functions transsynaptically control NMDA and AMPA receptors, thereby mediating presynaptic control of postsynaptic responses.