cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stimulating Market Forces: Getting Incentives to Work for You

Every year, I invite a local businessman/entrepreneur to speak to my class in Corporate Social Impact Management. His name is Kevin Trapani, and he is the chief executive officer of The Redwoods Group, a company that has been extremely innovative in generating a strong positive social impact for its clients and their communities. Much of this positive impact can be attributed to Trapani’s astute way of aligning several incentives to work for the public good. The Redwoods Group sells liability insurance to YMCAs, Jewish Community Centers, and summer camps. Redwoods makes more money, and their clients are more satisfied, if no one sues or seeks liability compensation from these organizations, eating into Redwoods’ reserves. And if no one sues or seeks compensation, then Redwoods can afford to lower their rates and still make good money for their shareholders, pleasing their clients even more and leading them to recommend Redwoods to others. What stimulates all these financial incentives to work are training programs that Redwoods has developed that show their clients how to virtually eliminate drownings and child sexual abuse—the two biggest causes of liability actions against YMCAs, Jewish Community Centers, and camps.
A numerical method for the solution of supersonic streamwise vortex dynamics

Abstract In this work a numerical model for the solution of supersonic streamwise vortices is presented. It is known that the canonical solution of the supersonic horseshoe line-vortex collapses to the counterpart subsonic Biot–Savart solution in a region of the domain that is both function of the radial distance from the source as well as the extension of the cone of influence at the specific downstream location. It is proposed in here to separate the flow in two regions: a near field where techniques that have been developed for the treatment of the singularity in subsonic point vortex methods can be employed, and a far field solution of the supersonic vortex source that retains the hyperbolic nature of the problem. The definition of the extent of the respective domains, as well as the conditions for a congruent transition are the subjects of this investigation. A polynomial approximation for the determination of the transition location is derived. A comparison between simulations utilizing the proposed model and measurements from a series of experiments conducted in a Mach 2.5 flow is discussed.
Correlation of Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Computer Adaptive Test (PROMIS-CAT) and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) in Knee Osteotomy and Cartilage Procedures:

Objectives:PROMIS-CAT is a novel and efficient method for obtaining patient reported outcomes. Since its inception in 2007, PROMIS has been validated for several body joints, but correlations betwe...
First-principles-based reaction kinetics from reactive molecular dynamics simulations: Application to hydrogen peroxide decomposition.

This paper presents our vision of how to use in silico approaches to extract the reaction mechanisms and kinetic parameters for complex condensed-phase chemical processes that underlie important technologies ranging from combustion to chemical vapor deposition. The goal is to provide an analytic description of the detailed evolution of a complex chemical system from reactants through various intermediates to products, so that one could optimize the efficiency of the reactive processes to produce the desired products and avoid unwanted side products. We could start with quantum mechanics (QM) to ensure an accurate description; however, to obtain useful kinetics we need to average over ∼10-nm spatial scales for ∼1 ns, which is prohibitively impractical with QM. Instead, we use the reactive force field (ReaxFF) trained to fit QM to carry out the reactive molecular dynamics (RMD). We focus here on showing that it is practical to extract from such RMD the reaction mechanisms and kinetics information needed to describe the reactions analytically. This analytic description can then be used to incorporate the correct reaction chemistry from the QM/ReaxFF atomistic description into larger-scale simulations of ∼10 nm to micrometers to millimeters to meters using analytic approaches of computational fluid dynamics and/or continuum chemical dynamics. In the paper we lay out the strategy to extract the mechanisms and rate parameters automatically without the necessity of knowing any details of the chemistry. We consider this to be a proof of concept. We refer to the process as RMD2Kin (reactive molecular dynamics to kinetics) for the general approach and as ReaxMD2Kin (ReaxFF molecular dynamics to kinetics) for QM-ReaxFF–based reaction kinetics.
Evaluation of LeadCare Ultra® as an initial screen for elevated blood lead levels

Abstract Objective The LeadCare Ultra® (LCU) was compared to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry ICP-MS for use as a screening test for elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) in capillary samples from children. Methods During the validation, method comparisons between LCU and ICP-MS were analyzed to determine the bias above, near, and below the BLL cut-off of 5 μg/dL. Additionally, capillary samples that screened positive by LCU (above the 5 μg/dL cut-off) were compared to venous samples analyzed by ICP-MS for confirmatory testing. Results LCU had a positive bias (1.7 μg/dL) below the cut-off of BLL 10 μg/dL compared to ICP-MS. Of the 59 capillary samples that screened positive by LCU between May of 2017 to April of 2018, 19 were confirmed positive by ICP-MS, 30 were confirmed negative by ICP-MS, and 10 did not have a confirmed result. Conclusion The LCU assay is an acceptable screen for capillary samples with the BLL cut-off of 5 μg/dL.
Public participatory historical GIS

Building historical geographic information system (HGIS) datasets is time consuming and very expensive, especially when built at the scales that permit analysis of the lived experiences of individu...
Design and Control of a Passively Morphing Quadcopter

This paper presents a novel quadcopter design that uses passive rotary joints to enable rapid aerial morphing without the use of additional actuators. The normally rigid connections between the arms of the quadcopter and the central body are replaced by sprung hinges that allow for the arms of the quadcopter to fold downward when low thrusts are produced by the propellers, resulting in a reduction of the largest dimension of the vehicle by approximately 50%. The ability of the vehicle to reduce its size during flight allows, e.g., for the traversal of gaps through which a non-morphing quadcopter could not pass. The vehicle is designed such that existing quadcopter controllers and trajectory generation algorithms can be used, provided that some additional constraints on the control inputs are met. The nonlinear dynamics of the system are presented, and design rules are given that minimize transition time between configurations and maximize the available range of control inputs. A method for performing gap traversal maneuvers is proposed and validated experimentally.
Use of Thermistor Temperature Sensors for Cyber-Physical System Security

The last few decades have seen a large proliferation in the prevalence of cyber-physical systems. This has been especially highlighted by the explosive growth in the number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Unfortunately, the increasing prevalence of these devices has begun to draw the attention of malicious entities which exploit them for their own gain. What makes these devices especially attractive is the various resource constraints present in these devices that make it difficult to add standard security features. Therefore, one intriguing research direction is creating security solutions out of already present components such as sensors. Physically Unclonable Functions (PUFs) are one potential solution that use intrinsic variations of the device manufacturing process for provisioning security. In this work, we propose a novel weak PUF design using thermistor temperature sensors. Our design uses the differences in resistance variation between thermistors in response to temperature change. To generate a PUF that is reliable across a range of temperatures, we use a response-generation algorithm that helps mitigate the effects of temperature variation on the thermistors. We tested the performance of our proposed design across a range of environmental operating conditions. From this we were able to evaluate the reliability of the proposed PUF with respect to variations in temperature and humidity. We also evaluated the PUF’s uniqueness using Monte Carlo simulations.
It Is an Equal Failing to Trust Everybody and to Trust Nobody: Stock Price Prediction Using Trust Filters and Enhanced User Sentiment on Twitter

Social media are providing a huge amount of information, in scales never possible before. Sentiment analysis is a powerful tool that uses social media information to predict various target domains (e.g., the stock market). However, social media information may or may not come from trustworthy users. To utilize this information, a very first critical problem to solve is to filter credible and trustworthy information from contaminated data, advertisements, or scams. We investigate different aspects of a social media user to score his/her trustworthiness and credibility. Furthermore, we provide suggestions on how to improve trustworthiness on social media by analyzing the contribution of each trust score. We apply trust scores to filter the tweets related to the stock market as an example target domain. While social media sentiment analysis has been on the rise over the past decade, our trust filters enhance conventional sentiment analysis methods and provide more accurate prediction of the target domain, here, the stock market. We argue that while it is a failing to ignore the information social media provide, effectively trusting nobody, it is an equal failing to trust everybody on social media too: Our filters seek to identify whom to trust.
When Evidence Isn't Enough: Suspension, Evidentialism, and Knowledge-first Virtue Epistemology

I motivate and develop a novel account of the epistemic assessability of suspension as a development of my knowledge-first, virtue-epistemological research program. First, I extend an argument of Ernest Sosa's for the claim that evidentialism cannot adequately account for the epistemic assessability of suspension. This includes a kind of knowledge-first evidentialism of the sort advocated by Timothy Williamson. I agree with Sosa that the reasons why evidentialism fails motivate a virtue-epistemological approach, but argue that my knowledge-first account is preferable to his view. According to my account, rational belief is belief that manifests proper practical respect for what it takes to know. Beliefs are the only primary bearers of epistemic evaluation since they are the only candidates for knowledge. However, suspension can manifest a derivative kind of practical respect for what it takes to know. Thus, we can explain why the same sort of assessment is applicable to both belief and suspension (epistemic rationality), and why belief has a privileged claim to these properties. Lastly, I'll look at Sosa's and Williamson's treatments of Pyrrhonian skepticism, which treats a certain kind of suspension as the epistemically superior practice, and argue that my account provides a better anti-skeptical response than either of their approaches.
Performance status, survival, and end-of-life care in adults with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with immunotherapy.

49Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) improve survival for adults with metastatic NSCLC. Despite limited data on ICI efficacy in adults with poor performance status (PS), oncologists oft...
Therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome (t-MDS) in a patient with anaplastic astrocytoma : Successful treatment with allogeneic bone marrow transplant

Objective and importance Therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome (t-MDS) is a rare and typically fatal complication of therapy for cancer, including brain tumors. We report successful therapy of t-MDS that developed after treatment for an anaplastic astrocytoma. Clinical presentation t-MDS developed four and one-half years after successful therapy (resection, radiation and chemotherapy) administered for a cerebral anaplastic astrocytoma in a 34-year-old patient. Intervention The patient was treated with allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) for t-MDS. Conclusion She is alive three years after BMT with no evidence of brain tumor and in complete remission from t-MDS. To our knowledge, this is the first report of allogeneic BMT administered for t-MDS in an adult brain tumor patient. Clinicians must be alert to the development of t-MDS following chemotherapy for brain tumors and initiate appropriate treatment promptly.
Cardiolipin's Remodeling Rules Revealed: The Role of the Cellular Lipidome.

In this issue of Cell Reports, Oemer et al. (2020) define the acyl chain composition of cardiolipin and other lipid classes in murine tissues. They then employ artificial neural networks to predict mechanisms that govern cardiolipin tissue specificity, with implications for understanding cellular pathogenesis in human disease.
Rheology, microstructure and phase behavior of potato starch-protein fibril mixed gel

Abstract Effects of adding whey protein fibrils to gels of potato starch with 8 % solids content were determined by rheology, microscopy, and calorimetry. Adding fibrils to starch at 50 % content (w/w) increased starch gelatinization temperature by 1.5 °C but decreased associated enthalpy. Fibril addition consistently reduced gel viscosity. Storage modulus (G’) of gels increased with fibril content when prepared at pH3.5 but not at pH6.8. Fibrils were dispersed within imaged gels at pH3.5 for contents below 50 %, while separated phases were observed within pH3.5 gels for 50 % fibril content and within pH6.8 gels for all fibril contents. Dilution of gels led to sedimentation of predominantly starch, and both starch and protein content of sediment increased with overall fibril content. Results indicated that associative interactions between fibrils and starch contributed to synergistic increases in gel elasticity at low pH but not at neutral pH conditions under which starch and protein were poorly compatible.
Bacterial Infections of Skin and Skin Structures

A 12-year-old female was evaluated in the emergency department (ED) for a swelling on her right leg. She is previously healthy; however, she has several mosquito bites on her leg which she has been scratching. Over the past 12 hours, she has had worsening redness and swelling around one of the mosquito bites, with associated fevers and vomiting. In the ED, she is febrile to 39 °C. Her physical examination is significant for a 10-cm tender area of redness, induration, warmth, and fluctuance on her right leg just above her knee. Incision and drainage of the abscess are performed at the bedside. The evacuated purulent material is sent for Gram stain and bacterial culture. She is admitted to the hospital and treated with intravenous vancomycin and cefazolin to target the most likely causes of the infection: Streptococcus pyogenes and methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Culture results reveal Staphylococcus aureus, a catalase-positive, coagulase-positive gram-positive coccus typically seen as purple grape-like clusters on Gram stain. Rapid latex agglutination testing is positive for the detection of penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 2A. Expression of this protein further identifies the organism as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). IV cefazolin was discontinued. Vancomycin is continued while awaiting the full antimicrobial susceptibility report. On hospital day 2, antimicrobial susceptibilities reveal that the isolate is susceptible to clindamycin. At this time, the patient is afebrile, showing signs of clinical improvement, and tolerating oral intake without vomiting. Her treatment is switched from IV vancomycin to oral clindamycin, and she is discharged home with a diagnosis of MRSA skin abscess. Her infection resolves completely after treatment with a 10-day course of clindamycin.
Insights on exclusive breastfeeding norms in Kinshasa: findings from a qualitative study

For optimal growth and development, the World Health Organization recommends that children be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life. However, according to the nationally-representative 2013–2014 Demographic and Health Survey, under 50% of babies in the Democratic Republic of Congo are exclusively breastfed. Although breastfeeding was common in the capital city of Kinshasa, one in five newborns received alternatives to breastmilk during the first 3 days of life. This analysis aimed to identify social norms influencing exclusive breastfeeding, the role of a young first-time mother’s (FTM’s) social network for her choice to exclusively breastfeed, and perceived social sanctions associated with breastfeeding practices in Kinshasa. The qualitative analysis was based on a vignette presented during 14 focus group discussions, with a purposively selected sample (n = 162) of FTMs age 15–24, and the male partners, mothers and mothers-in-law of FTMs age 15–24 in three health zones in Kinshasa in 2017. Thematic content analysis was performed to identify concepts and patterns in the participants’ discussions. Overall, community norms were not supportive of exclusive breastfeeding. The main barriers to exclusive breastfeeding were the belief held by most FTMs that exclusive breastfeeding was an uncommon practice; the desire to avoid negative sanctions such as name-calling and mockery for refusal to give babies water in the first 6 months of life; the desire to please key members of their social networks, specifically their mothers and friends, by doing what these influencers expected or preferred them to do; FTMs’ own lack of experience with infant feeding; and trust placed in their mothers and friends. Social norms can be maintained by the belief about what others do, perceived expectations about what individuals ought to do, the negative sanctions they can face and their preference to conform to social expectations. Thus, addressing cultural beliefs and targeting sensitization efforts to key influencers that provide support to FTMs are needed to promote exclusive breastfeeding in Kinshasa. In doing so, strategies should address the barriers to exclusive breastfeeding including related misconceptions, and improve FTMs’ self-efficacy to overcome the influence of others.
Grassroots INGOs in Africa: Perspectives on What They Are (and Are Not?):

This research explores philanthropic transfers and exchanges between and among the North and the South, namely, through grassroots international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs), which tend to...
Low-dose Dasatinib Ameliorates Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Noonan Syndrome with Multiple Lentigines

Noonan syndrome with multiple lentigines (NSML) is an autosomal dominant disorder presenting with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Up to 85% of NSML cases are caused by mutations in the PTPN11 gene that encodes for the Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP2). We previously showed that low-dose dasatinib protects from the development of cardiac fibrosis in a mouse model of NSML harboring a Ptpn11Y279C mutation. This study is performed to determine the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) properties of a low-dose of dasatinib in NSML mice and to determine its effectiveness in ameliorating the development of HCM. Dasatinib was administered intraperitoneally into NSML mice with doses ranging from 0.05 to 0.5 mg/kg. PK parameters of dasatinib in NSML mice were determined. PD parameters were obtained for biochemical analyses from heart tissue. Dasatinib-treated NSML mice (0.1 mg/kg) were subjected to echocardiography and assessment of markers of HCM by qRT-PCR. Transcriptome analysis was performed from the heart tissue of low-dose dasatinib-treated mice. Low-dose dasatinib exhibited PK properties that were linear across doses in NSML mice. Dasatinib treatment of between 0.05 and 0.5 mg/kg in NSML mice yielded an exposure-dependent inhibition of c-Src and PZR tyrosyl phosphorylation and inhibited AKT phosphorylation. We found that doses as low as 0.1 mg/kg of dasatinib prevented HCM in NSML mice. Transcriptome analysis identified differentially expressed HCM-associated genes in the heart of NSML mice that were reverted to wild type levels by low-dose dasatinib administration. These data demonstrate that low-dose dasatinib exhibits desirable therapeutic PK properties that is sufficient for effective target engagement to ameliorate HCM progression in NSML mice. These data demonstrate that low-dose dasatinib treatment may be an effective therapy against HCM in NSML patients.
Stability and change in autobiographical reasoning: A 4-year longitudinal study of narrative identity development.

OBJECTIVE Research on personality development has traditionally focused on rank-order stability and mean-level change in the context of personality traits. The present study expands this approach to the examination of change and stability at another level of personality-narrative identity-by focusing on autobiographical reasoning. Drawing from theory in personality and developmental science, we examine stability and change in exploratory processing and positive and negative self-event connections. METHOD We take advantage of a longitudinal study of emerging adult personality and identity development, which includes four waves of data across 4 years, examining reasoning in two domains of identity, academics, and romance (n = 1520 narratives; n = 176-638 participants, depending on the analysis). RESULTS We found moderate rank-order stability in autobiographical reasoning, but more so for exploratory processing than self-event connections. We found mean-level increases for exploratory processing in the context of romance and stability in the context of academics. For self-event connections, we saw a decrease for positive connections, and for negative connections about romance, with stability for negative connections about academics. CONCLUSIONS Implications include developmental differences in types of reasoning as well as the sensitivity of narrative identity to revealing the contextual nature of personality development.
The effect of sulphonylurea on the in vivo tissue uptake of glucose in normal rats.

To evaluate the effect of sulphonylurea on in vivo tissue uptake of glucose, the arterial injection tissue-sampling technique of Oldendorf [9] was used to measure the glucose uptake of brain; liver; subcutaneous fat; and of three skeletal muscles, the masseter, femoris and soleus. Rats gavaged with glipizide 5 mg/kg daily for 5 days were compared to vehicletreated rats. The serum glucose levels at the time of the experiment were identical in the two groups (10.36±0.42 mmol/l vs 10.38±0.36 mmol/l). Glipizide treatment did not result in an increase in glucose uptake by the various tissues studied. It is concluded that, under physiological conditions in non-fasted rats, sulphonylureas do not significantly alter tissue uptake of glucose.
A Transparent Correlation-Based Scheme for Energy Efficient Context Sensing and Fusion under Android Systems

A primary concern with modern smartphones is battery consumption. With so many different hardware components in modern smartphones, there are situations where certain components may be powered down or reduced in functionality without disrupting the user experience. We propose a transparent correlation-based scheme for energy efficient context sensing and fusion under Android systems. We experiment with the idea of disabling hardware functionality based on context. Our scheme focuses on inferring a user's location and subsequently disabling the GPS, which is considered to be one of the most energy-expensive components included in a smartphone. For example, when a user has connected to a Wi-Fi network with a known location, we disable GPS navigation and deliver the known location in its place. Based on our experiments, we conclude that this approach can significantly improve a device's battery life.
Fusobacterium nucleatum Interaction with Host Cells

Fusobacterium nucleatum is a gram-negative filamentous anaerobe ubiquitous to the oral cavity. While the focus of this chapter is on F. nucleatum interaction with host cells, the chapter also explains the role of coaggregation in oral microbial community interaction with the host. F. nucleatum is an opportunistic pathogen implicated in various forms of periodontal disease. During periodontal infection, the cell mass of F. nucleatum can increase as much as 10,000-fold, making it one of the most abundant anaerobic species in the diseased sites. In particular, F. nucleatum is one of the leading organisms identified in intrauterine infections causing adverse pregnancy outcomes, including spontaneous miscarriage, preterm birth, and stillbirth. One common feature shared by bacterial pathogens is their ability to adhere to and invade host cells. F. nucleatum modulates an array of host responses upon attachment to and invasion of host cells. A protein complex, FIP, composed of two subunits of 44 and 48 kDa, mediates T-cell suppression. Sequence analysis of TM7a shows that while the majority of the genes are only distantly related to genes found in other organisms, a minority share high sequence similarity with genes found in members of the classes Bacilli, Clostridia, and Fusobacteria, which may result from horizontal gene transfer in the oral cavity. FadA is a unique adhesin in that both the secreted mFadA and the intact pre-FadA are required for function.
Influence of Philosophy on Law and Politics in Western Civilization

When the people of the Eastern Mediterranean region believed, prior to Greek natural philosophy, that natural events and the outcome of human enterprise were controlled by the gods, authority was given to and power was exercised by the men who had access to the gods to consult them, solicit their favor, and propitiate them. Therefore, the heads of family, gens, tribe, and city-state religions were the judges, economic planners, and military leaders. Since sons only could inherit the right to consult the gods, society was patriarchal. Where there was not worship in common, there could be no society and no law. When the belief that the world is rational and that all men are rational became generally accepted, the basis of the working-together and livingtogether relations of Western society became those that reason required or assented to, rather than those laid down by the heads of religions. Furthermore, the entities that were thus related were not common-sense persons, but legal-concept persons, having precisely the right-duty attributes set out in the law. Men did not deal with each other qua men, but as "mortgagor" and "mortgagee," or "seller" and "purchaser." The intent of the parties, rather than the exactness of ritual, came to determine whether a transaction was binding. The absolute control of the head of the family over the persons and the material resources of its members was broken through and radically limited. The logical structure of Greek natural philosophy was imported into law and the categories of juristic thought of Western civiliza69
Marrying behavioural economics and growth theory

Adam Smith wrote two major books in his lifetime. One of them, the well-known Wealth of Nations (1776) propelled him to be the father of economic theory; whereas the other one, the Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759) did not bring him so much fame. If it had, he might have become the father of psychology as well. Classical economists often moonlighted as early psychologists. Yet, as the use of mathematics gradually became a standard feature of mainstream economics, the profession began to shy away from psychology as it lacked the tools as well as the rules to describe complex human behaviour. However, both mathematical tools and socio-psychological theory have improved a great deal over time, enabling us to build much richer economic frameworks. And indeed over the last couple of decades, we have witnessed a growing number of attempts to bring the two disciplines together once again. The subfield became known as behavioural economics. The objective of this paper is to find out whether behavioural economics could help us gain useful insights into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. The paper consists of two parts. The first part discusses whether we could, and should, build deductive and formalised growth models which incorporate 'irrational' features of human nature. In the second part we attempt to build one such model by including a perception of fairness. Our main conclusion is that although various difficulties arise, it would be beneficial for growth theory if the modern versions of Adam Smiths two professions integrated each other's findings.This is the first draft of the paper.
On the identity of “isolated chromosomes”: III. Length of chromatin threads and speed of the Waring Blendor

Abstract Distributions of the lengths of chromatin threads isolated in salt solution from chicken erythrocytes with the Waring Blendor operated at a minimum speed and at the normal full speed were found very similar. These results do not support the indication (3) that the length of the threads is artificially influenced by the action of the Blendor.
Effects of carbon fibers on the transcrystalline interphase in poly(phenylene sulfide) of different molecular weights

Composite films of different molecular weight poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS) and three types of carbon fibers (Pitch, PAN, and Rayon-based fibers) have been studied by optical microscopy and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. Transcrystallization of growing spherulites on carbon fibers is found under all thermal conditions of growth on Rayon and Pitch-based carbon fibers for all types of matrices. For composite films with PAN carbon fibers transcrystallization of growing spherulites is not uniform and sometimes is not found at all. Existence of b axial orientation of twisted lamellae for transcrystalline zone of PPS is demonstrated by X-ray diffraction technique and compared with orientation of the stretched sample. The new induction time quantitative approach is applied to the transcrystalline growth of PPS spherulites on the surface of carbon fibers. The interfacial free energy difference for fiber/crystallite and heterogeneities/ crystallite systems in the melt that is defined from growth and nucleation stud...
CROSS-DESENSITIZATION OF CHEMOATTRACTANT RECEPTORS OCCURS AT MULTIPLE LEVELS : EVIDENCE FOR A ROLE FOR INHIBITION OF PHOSPHOLIPASE C ACTIVITY

To define the molecular mechanisms of cross-regulation among chemoattractant receptors, we stably co-expressed, in a rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cell line, epitope-tagged receptors for the chemoattractants formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (fMLP), a peptide of the fifth component of the complement system (C5a), and interleukin-8 (IL-8). All the expressed receptors underwent homologous phosphorylation and desensitization upon agonist stimulation. When co-expressed, epitope-tagged C5a receptor (ET-C5aR) and epitope-tagged IL-8 receptor (ET-IL-8RA) were cross-phosphorylated by activation of the other. Activation of epitope-tagged fMLP receptor (ET-FR) also cross-phosphorylated ET-C5aR and ET-IL-8RA, but ET-FR was totally resistant to cross-phosphorylation. Similarly, C5a and IL-8 stimulation of [35S]guanosine 5′-3-O-(thio)triphosphate (GTPγS) binding and Ca2+ mobilization were cross-desensitized by each other and by fMLP. Stimulation of [35S]GTPγS binding by fMLP was also not cross-desensitized by C5a or IL-8, however, Ca2+ mobilization was, suggesting a site of inhibition distal to G protein activation. Consistent with this desensitization of Ca2+ mobilization, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate release in RBL-2H3 cells expressing both ET-C5aR and ET-FR revealed that fMLP and C5a cross-desensitized each other's ability to stimulate phosphoinositide hydrolysis. Taken together, these results indicate that receptor cross-phosphorylation correlates directly with desensitization at the level of G protein activation. The ET-FR was resistant to this process. Of note, cross-desensitization of ET-FR at the level of phosphoinositide hydrolysis and Ca2+ mobilization was demonstrated in the absence of receptor phosphorylation. This suggests a new form of chemoattractant cross-regulation at a site distal to receptor/G protein coupling, involving the activity of phospholipase C.
A systematic approach to MDD-based constraint programming

Fixed-width MDDs were introduced recently as a more refined alternative for the domain store to represent partial solutions to CSPs. In this work, we present a systematic approach to MDD-based constraint programming. First, we introduce a generic scheme for constraint propagation in MDDs. We show that all previously known propagation algorithms for MDDs can be expressed using this scheme. Moreover, we use the scheme to produce algorithms for a number of other constraints, including Among, Element, and unary resource constraints. Finally, we discuss an implementation of our MDD-based CP solver, and provide experimental evidence of the benefits of MDD-based constraint programming.
The Continuing Digital Divide in the United States

Mapping the digital divide in America is a multifaceted issue; however, the influence of underlying socioeconomic causes, the shift in the conversation to new divides including broadband accessibility and digital literacy, and the importance of the library in narrowing the divide are all prominent points of focus in the literature today. As conversations surrounding the digital divide begin to shift from a divide in access to a divide in skills and/or literacy, attention must be drawn to meeting those needs in equal measure to maintaining access as the primary means of closing the digital divide in America.
Prospects for Automated Solution of the Subject Characterization Problem in the Bibliographic Services

Evidence is presented on the feasibility of an automated generation of classification schemes and the subsequent indexing of papers with the automatically generated subject headings. The output generated for Astronomy and Astrophysics compares favorably with the schemes used by the services and is not inconsistent with recently proposed classifications. Implementation of the automatic techniques seems not only feasible but desirable. However, it would require that the services include for each paper in their database its citations to other papers.
Flow Instabilities and Transition

This paper introduces the flow instability concept and the problem of transition prediction. The discussion is aimed at the Tollmien–Schlichting type of instability in low-speed two-dimensional boundary layers. The discussion includes an outline of the linear stability theory, paths to turbulence in wall layers, and the eN method for transition prediction. Keywords: hydrodynamic stability; transition to turbulence; transition prediction
TAB packaging at Hewlett-Packard

A tape automated bonding (TAB) development project is discussed. In the early stages of the project many tough issues were faced. The choice of tape and bump technologies appropriate for the end users, equipment sourcing, and equipment setup and debugging are discussed. The first customer product, a 104L CMOS chip, was qualified and released to production in early 1988. Since that date, the process has ramped up to production volumes. Data regarding reliability, failure modes, and other key process parameters are presented. >
Examining Explanations for the Link Between Bullying Perpetration and Physical Dating Violence Perpetration: Do They Vary by Bullying Victimization?

This short-term longitudinal study examined whether the association between bullying perpetration and later physical dating violence perpetration and mediators of that association (via anger, depression, anxiety, and social status), varied depending on level of bullying victimization. Differences have been noted between those who bully but are not victims of bullying, and those who are both bullies and victims. These differences may influence dating violence risk and the explanations for why bullying leads to dating violence. Data were from dating adolescents in three rural counties who completed self-administered questionnaires in the fall semester of grades 8-10 and again in the spring semester. The sample (N = 2,414) was 44.08% male and 61.31% white. Bullying perpetration in the fall semester predicted physical dating violence perpetration in the spring semester when there was no bullying victimization, but not when there was any bullying victimization. Bullying perpetration was positively associated with anger at all levels of bullying victimization and with social status when there was no or low amounts of victimization; it was negatively associated with social status at high levels of victimization. Bullying victimization was positively associated with anger, depression, and anxiety at all levels of bullying perpetration. Anger mediated the association between bullying perpetration and dating violence, regardless of level of victimization; depression, anxiety, and social status did not mediate the association at any level of bullying victimization. The findings have implications for dating violence prevention efforts and for future research on the link between bullying and dating violence.
Standardized Testing In The Case Of China And The Lessons To Be Learned For The U.S.

The Chinese have been using standardized testing for centuries. Ancient Greeks have tried it for centuries since 5 th and 4th BC. There is no evidence that they have become successful in educating their children through an imperial or elitist system. The impact of standardizing the education on a nation is significant. This is not only true for not being able to cultivate creative and innovative youth and thus a society, but also has significant impact on the economy as well. China example may help justify and clarify the direction we are heading in educating our nation. This paper reflects on the impact of standardized testing on China and explains the need to redirect our efforts within our educational system.
Serum and colon mucosa micronutrient antioxidants: differences between adenomatous polyp patients and controls.

Serum and colon mucosa micronutrient antioxidants: differences between adenomatous polyp patients and controls
Gradient-index silver alumina phosphate glasses by exchange of Na(+) for Ag(+).

High index of refraction crown glasses containing silver oxide have been cast from a melt and used for ion exchange experiments. High quality axial and radial gradient-index profiles were fabricated and the interdiffusion coefficient calculated. Index changes up to 0.08 were achieved in a base glass with nd = 1.61 and Vd = 57.
An electrical conductivity (EC) study of the thermal dissociation of [Co(NH3)6]X3 and [Co(en)3]X3 complexes

Abstract The thermal dissociation of the [Co(NH3)6]X3 (X = Cl−, Br−, I−, and NO−3), [Co(en)3]X3 (X = Cl−, Br−, I−, NO−3, HSO−4 and 1 2 C2O2−4), cis- [Co(en)2Cl2]Cl, and trans-[Co(en)2ClBr]NO3 complexes was investigated by an electrical conductivity (EC) technique. During the thermal dissociation reactions, liquid or semi-liquid phases are formed which cause large increases in the EC of the compound. The effect of concentration of the complex in a matrix medium as well as the composition of the matrix material on the EC curves were also determined.
The knowledge base partitioning problem: mathematical formulation and heuristic clustering

Abstract Allocation of production rules among several partitions in a knowledge base can shorten the compilation and execution of expert systems applications and facilitate their verification, validation and maintenance. The problem of allocation of rules or groups of rules among partitions of limited size while minimizing the sum of inter-partition connections is formulated as a 0–1 integer programming problem with a quadratic objective function. Since this type of problems is NP-complete, a clustering algorithm based on the nearest neighbor heuristic is proposed.
Evidence for Parathyroid Failure in Magnesium Deficiency

Serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (IPTH) was low to nondetectable in spite of hypocalcemia in a patient with chronic magnesium deficiency. The administration of magnesium led to parallel increases in serum IPTH, serum calcium, and renal phosphate clearance. These findings support the view that magnesium depletion may result in impaired synthesis or release of parathyroid hormone in man, or both.
Hepatitis E virus infection in a liver transplant recipient in the United States: a case report.

Abstract Background Chronic infection with hepatitis E virus (HEV) has recently been recognized in immunocompromised or immunosuppressed individuals. Case Report We report a case of concurrent HEV and human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6) infection, documented by serum HEV RNA and HHV-6 DNA, in an orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) recipient in the United States, where HEV genotype 3 infection, although prevalent, is considered to be self-limited and almost always asymptomatic. The coinfection was accompanied by elevated serum aminotransaminases, liver biopsies demonstrating chronic hepatitis, and the presence of HEV RNA in the tissue. After lowering of immunosuppressive therapy and 2 courses of valganciclovir, sequential clearance of the viruses and normalization of the serum aminotransaminases were observed. Conclusions HEV infection can lead to chronic hepatitis in OLT recipients, and evaluation of this virus should be considered in immunosuppressed individuals with unexplained liver test abnormalities.
Protonic solid electrolytes: thermal stability and conductivity of ammonium/hydronium β″-alumina

Abstract Ammonium/hydronium β-alumina, [ NH 4 H 3 O ] 1.67 Mg 0.67 Al 10.33 O 17 , is an unusually stable and conductive solid electrolyte for protonic ions. Its conductivity at 200°C, for example, reaches about 10−2 (Ω cm)−1. This paper describes an investigation of the composition, stability, and ionic conductivity of ammonium/hydronium β″-alumina by means of chemical analysis, TGA, DSC, and complex impedance analysis. The results demonstrate that ammonium/hydronium β″-alumina has a preferential composition of (NH4)1.0(H3O)0.67Mg0.67Al10.33O17, which corresponds to a rather elegant, albeit only hypothetical at this time, ordered arrangement of ammonium ions, hydronium ions, and vacancies in the structure. Ammonium/hydronium β″-alumina decomposes below 350°C in discrete and reversible reactions that yield water and ammonia. The conductivity of single crystals of (NH4)1.0(H3O)0.67Mg0.67Al10.33O17 obeys an Arrhenius relationship below 200|MoC with an activation energy of 0.26 eV (σ = 10−3 (Ω cm−1 at 25°C).
Development of a Failure Criterion for Asphalt Mixtures Under Different Modes of Fatigue Loading

In the study reported in this paper, the previously developed failure criterion for the viscoelastic continuum damage (VECD) model (referred to here as GRO, where O indicates old and GR is the rate of release of the pseudostrain energy) was applied to different modes of fatigue loading. The research team found that this criterion was mode-of-loading dependent and therefore considered insufficient. To mitigate this limitation, the GRO criterion was refined to become a new failure criterion, the GR method, which resolved the mode-of-load dependency issue. A characteristic relationship, which was found to exist in recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) and non-RAP mixtures between the rate of change of the averaged released pseudostrain energy during fatigue testing and the final fatigue life was derived in this study. This relationship is independent of mode of loading, strain amplitude, and temperature. The proposed failure criterion combines the advantages of the VECD model and this characteristic relationship, ...
Differential exercise performance on ventricular assist device support.

Background Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are approved for destination therapy because they improve survival in end-stage heart failure (HF). VADs are powered pneumatically or electrically. Pneumatic and electric left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) and biventricular assist devices (BiVADs) provide excellent hemodynamic support at rest, but differences in their effects on exercise tolerance are unclear. We sought to evaluate the effect of devices with varying operating parameters on exercise capacity. Methods Exercise physiology data obtained during maximal exercise with on-line gas-exchange analysis were collected for 38 consecutive VAD-implanted HF patients referred for exercise testing. Results Electric LVADs were implanted in 18 patients, and pneumatic LVADs in 10 patients. Percent of predicted peak exercise oxygen consumption (V o 2%) was significantly greater in pneumatic LVAD patients (52.1 ± 11.1% vs 38.2 ± 11.3%, p o 2% (52.1 ± 11.1% vs 36.5 ± 17.7%, p Conclusions HF patients supported with a pneumatic LVAD appear to have better exercise tolerance than those receiving an electric LVAD. Patients on LVAD support have better exercise tolerance than BiVAD-supported patients. This highlights the importance of right ventricular function to exercise tolerance in HF patients, and may have implications for future VAD design.
Elegance, silence and nonsense in the mutations literature for solid tumors

A third of highly cited clinical studies are subsequently contradicted, and there are statistical reasons for why many published research findings may be false. The subjective impression of many experts in cancer genetics is that much of the tumor mutation literature may also be erroneous or deeply flawed. For example, there exist many reports of false somatic mutations attributable entirely to the choice of analytic method. This pattern of mis-reporting may divert the investment of limiting resources for cancer research into fundamentally flawed directions. We provide here a review of the basic theoretic principles and observed patterns within the literature of solid tumors and inherited tumor-susceptibility syndromes. These patterns provide support for a systematic approach to the critical analysis of the somatic mutation literature offered in the accompanying paper.
Concordance of historical questions used in risk-stratifying patients with headache

Abstract Study Objective We sought to determine whether the manner and order in which historical questions used to risk stratify for subarachnoid hemorrhage are asked significantly alter the response/concordance. Methods Adult patients complaining of headache in the emergency department were presented with 1 of 2 questionnaires each containing 2 variations of the pertinent question and differing only in their order. Data were primarily analyzed using the κ statistic to determine whether rates of concordance are greater than would be expected by chance alone. And, as a secondary outcome, a sample of 120 was predetermined to be adequate to achieve 80% power in detecting a difference of 20% to 25% between questionnaires comparing the influence of order on concordance. Results The agreement corrected for chance for version 2, κ = 0.51, is higher than the agreement corrected for chance for version 1, κ = 0.28, a difference of 0.23 with a 95% confidence interval (−0.03 to 0.49; P = .08; SE, 0.13). The percentages of patients who answered the questions concordantly were 60% and 75%, respectively, for versions 1 and 2. The difference is 15% with a 95% confidence interval of (−2% to 32%, P = .08). Conclusion Although not statistically significant, our study indicates that up 38% answer these 2 very similar questions discordantly. Also, there appears to be a higher degree of concordance (15%) when patients are first asked, "When was the last time you had a headache this bad?"