cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Compatible Forest Management: Background and Context

Let us begin by defining our area of interest: the moist maritime forests of the Pacific Northwest (PNW). Geographically (as shown in Figure 1), this includes western Oregon and Washington (the west side of the Cascade Range, the Coast Range, and the Olympic Mountains), coastal British Columbia (Coast Mountains), and island-dominated southeastern Alaska (as far north as the Kenai Peninsula). Collectively, this is the world’s northernmost temperate rainforest (Walter 1985). Although this coastal rainforest zone stretches southward to San Francisco, California, we focus our research northward from the California-Oregon border. The east-west extent of this coastal forest varies as a function of climate and elevation; the zone ranges from a few kilometers at the northern and southern extremes to several hundred kilometers in the middle of its range. Much of the northern half of this range (British Columbia north of Vancouver Island to southeastern Alaska) is in a relatively undisturbed, natural state. The forest from Vancouver Island, British Columbia to northern California contains some of the world’s most valuable and productive commercial timberlands. An important subset of the PNW is the Douglas-fir region (western Washington and Oregon), which is dominated by the fast-growing coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco).
Theoretical Investigations of the Electrochemical Reduction of CO on Single Metal Atoms Embedded in Graphene

Single transition metal atoms embedded at single vacancies of graphene provide a unique paradigm for catalytic reactions. We present a density functional theory study of such systems for the electrochemical reduction of CO. Theoretical investigations of CO electrochemical reduction are particularly challenging in that electrochemical activation energies are a necessary descriptor of activity. We determined the electrochemical barriers for key proton–electron transfer steps using a state-of-the-art, fully explicit solvent model of the electrochemical interface. The accuracy of GGA-level functionals in describing these systems was also benchmarked against hybrid methods. We find the first proton transfer to form CHO from CO to be a critical step in C1 product formation. On these single atom sites, the corresponding barrier scales more favorably with the CO binding energy than for 211 and 111 transition metal surfaces, in the direction of improved activity. Intermediates and transition states for the hydroge...
What is Your “Phytolith Load”? An Examination of the Potential for Cross-Contamination During Phytolith Extraction

Phytoliths—amorphous opal silica bodies that form in living plant tissues—are assumed to be stable components of a soil matrix, minimally impacted by normal physical forces. This stability enables archaeologists to access an archive of prior vegetative landscapes when discrete horizons are recovered. However, there is a small chance of phytoliths moving in a laboratory setting via aeolian forces, especially after they have been isolated from other materials such as clay, organics, and carbonates, and when multiple samples are being processed simultaneously. As a result, an assessment of contamination risk on sample extraction is necessary for interpreting the results of phytolith analyses. We designed a study to test the potential for contamination on slides in two different locations of the phytolith laboratory. The results of our study inform how we can improve on phytolith processing protocols and analyses to reduce the potential effect of cross-contamination between samples.
Opening the Medieval Folding Almanac

Folding almanacs provided their medieval users with densely-packed information about scientific practices, medical treatments, astrological movements, and religious feast days. Their contents are m...
Virtual Worlds and Identity Exploration for Marginalised People

The recent rise in the use of virtual worlds as alternative spaces for social gatherings has increased people’s access to identity role-play and redevelopment options. By being able to explore repressed facets of their identities in virtual safe harbours such as Second LifeTM, marginalised people may be able to benefit from positive experiences that can be transferable to their physical world lives. Social construction approaches and the broaden and build theory of positive emotions are used to support the claim that marginalised people, using virtual world interactions, are able to reformulate how they perceive and are perceived by others, leading to positive psychological effects. Online behaviours, such as deindividuation and disinhibition, coupled with anonymity, replace missing sensory informational cues in virtual world environments. Social evaluation theory and social identity theory aid in explaining how people relate to each other in these spaces and the effects on identity development.
Relationship between Self-Ratings by Sensory Impaired Students and Teachers’ Ratings of Generalizable Skills:

This study examined the relationship between students’ self-ratings and teachers’ ratings of four sets of generalizable skills. The students, who were deaf, hard-of-hearing, or blind or had low vis...
How the Models of Engineering Tell the Truth

Models are one of the more important ways in which scientists and engineers understand and engage with the world. Philosophers of science have analyzed how modeling idealizes the world, helps explain events and supports our understanding. I advocate the study of models and modeling practice in engineering. I analyze two classic case studies on flush riveting and control volume analysis from Walter Vincenti as well as a set of models used in the evaluation of levee failures in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Engineers use a variety of different kinds of models and understanding how each model is used to guide understanding is worthwhile. Among the questions raised are how models guide processes of testing and design; what sorts of idealizations do engineers include in their models; and how do engineers use independent models to try to generate robust agreement between model results.
Effects of Adenosine on Ventricular Tachycardia

The purine nucleoside adenosine (Ado) is now recognized as an important physiologic modulator of the cardiovascular system. Its negative chronotropic and dromotropic actions on sinus node (SN) automaticity and atrio-ventricular (AV) nodal conduction, respectively and the vasodilatory action on the coronary vasculature have been known for more than six decades (1). In recent years, numerous other actions of Ado have been described (2) and its role as an endogenous cardioprotective agent has been established (3,4).
Implementing an Economic Evaluation of a Workplace Mental Health Intervention: A Primer

Most organizations feel they have insufficient resources. Budgets never seem to stretch far enough. There always seems to be a shortage of staff, equipment, or both. At the same time, they face significant costs related to covering worker healthcare and mental illness-related work disability costs. Choosing the most cost-effective way to intervene can be confusing. This chapter gives an overview of how to conduct an economic evaluation, a method that helps decision-makers make informed choices. Using an example of three work colleagues who are tasked with evaluating two types of workplace mental health interventions, the chapter discusses the factors that should be considered before beginning an economic evaluation, the types of economic evaluations from which to choose, the data needed to conduct an economic evaluation, how to use the data, interpreting the results of an economic evaluation, and how organizations could use an economic evaluation to make decisions.
Optimal Symmetry Breaking for Graph Problems

Symmetry breaking is a crucial technique to solve many graph problems. However, current state-of-the-art techniques break graph symmetries only partially, causing search algorithms to unnecessarily explore many isomorphic parts of the search space. We study properties of perfect symmetry breaking for graph problems. One promising and surprising result on small-sized graphs—up to order five—is that perfect symmetry breaking can be achieved using a compact propositional formula in which each literal occurs at most twice. At least for small graphs, perfect symmetry breaking can be expressed more compactly than the existing (partial) symmetry-breaking methods. We present several techniques to compute and analyze perfect symmetry-breaking formulas.
The structure of the stress-induced photosystem I-IsiA antenna supercomplex.

Photochemical conversion in oxygenic photosynthesis takes place in two large protein–pigment complexes named photosystem II and photosystem I (PSII and PSI, respectively). Photosystems associate with antennae in vivo to increase the size of photosynthetic units to hundreds or thousands of pigments. Regulation of the interactions between antennae and photosystems allows photosynthetic organisms to adapt to their environment. In low-iron environments, cyanobacteria express IsiA, a PSI antenna, critical to their survival. Here we describe the structure of the PSI–IsiA complex isolated from the mesophilic cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. This 2-MDa photosystem–antenna supercomplex structure reveals more than 700 pigments coordinated by 51 subunits, as well as the mechanisms facilitating the self-assembly and association of IsiA with multiple PSI assemblies. Cyanobacteria express IsiA, a photosystem I antenna, in response to stress. The structure of the photosystem I–IsiA complex reveals flexibility of the interactions within the complex and suggests the mechanism of energy transfer.
Endoscopy of the equine larynx

With the advent of overground endoscopy, there is more scrutiny of equine airways than ever before. Possibly as a result of this trend, owners, trainers and breeders seem to have a greater awarenes...
Esophagojejunal Anastomosis by Circular Stapler in Pediatric Patients: Size Minima Defined by Experience and Geometry.

Abstract Background: Esophagojejunostomy is facilitated by use of a circular stapler, particularly when performed laparoscopically. The minimum patient size that will allow use of circular staplers...
Value of Intratumoral Metabolic Heterogeneity and Quantitative 18F-FDG PET/CT Parameters in Predicting Prognosis for Patients With Cervical Cancer

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prognostic value of quantitative metabolic parameters from pretreatment PET/CT scans of patients with squamous cell cervical cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS. This retrospective study included 120 patients with biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix who underwent FDG PET/CT for initial tumor staging. The primary tumor maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean), tumor glycolytic activity, metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and metabolic intratumoral heterogeneity index (calculated as the AUC for the cumulative standardized uptake value [SUV]-volume histogram [CSH] index) were obtained. Information on patient demographic characteristics and tumor staging were collected. Median follow-up was 27.5 months. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model and log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test to generate Kaplan-Meier survival plots. RESULTS. The mean (± SD) age of the patients was 54.4 ± 13.1 years. Twenty-two patients had stage I disease; 58, stage II; 23, stage III; and 17, stage IV. Thirty-three patients died, 82 were living, and five were lost to follow-up and were censored; 29 patients had disease progression. The median survival was 74.9 months (95% CI, 63.6-86.9 months). A higher MTV was significantly associated with reduced OS in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 1.085; 95% CI, 1.036-1.136; p = 0.0005). A higher AUC-CSH index (denoting lower tumor heterogeneity) was significantly associated with increased OS (hazard ratio, 0.662; 95% CI, 0.448-0.979; p = 0.04) and PFS (hazard ratio, 0.683; 95% CI, 0.471-0.991; p = 0.045) in multivariate analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis using the median value for MTV (61 mL) significantly predicted OS (p = 0.0009). CONCLUSION. Tumor heterogeneity on pretreatment PET/CT is associated with OS and PFS in patients with cervical cancer. MTV is significantly associated with OS.
Growth of canopy red oak near its northern range limit: current trends, potential drivers, and implications for the future

Red oak (Quercus rubra L.) is projected to expand into the northern hardwood forest over the coming century. We explored the connection between red oak basal area growth and a number of factors (tr...
Surgical Access to Orbital-Zygomaticomaxillary Fractures

Intraoral Approach Intraoral approach( vestibular) is the most common approach used to repair zygomatic bone fracture. Parotid (Stensen’s) duct must be protected during this approach. Careful attention to details will prevent iatrogenic complications.
The role of crude oil prices in the movement of the Indonesian rupiah: a quantile ARDL approach

The linkages between oil prices and exchange rates have been researched considerably. However, studies to date typically assume symmetric responses of exchange rates to changes in crude oil prices and use a symmetric linear regression model when tackling the topic. Therefore, the new contribution of this article is to utilize the quantile autoregressive distributed lag approach newly developed by Cho et al. (J Econom 188:281–300, 2015) and investigate whether or not evidence of locational asymmetries exists between oil prices and the Indonesian rupiah (IDR). We detect that the relationship between oil prices and IDR is heterogeneous across different quantiles, thereby providing evidence of locational asymmetries in both the long- and short-run. We believe that this discovery has profound implications on empirical modeling of the oil price–exchange rate nexus and policy analysis.
USP52 regulates DNA end resection and chemosensitivity through removing inhibitory ubiquitination from CtIP

Human C-terminal binding protein (CtBP)-interacting protein (CtIP) is a central regulator to initiate DNA end resection and homologous recombination (HR). Several studies have shown that post-translational modifications control the activity or expression of CtIP. However, it remains unclear whether and how cells restrain CtIP activity in unstressed cells and activate CtIP when needed. Here, we identify that USP52 directly interacts with and deubiquitinates CtIP, thereby promoting DNA end resection and HR. Mechanistically, USP52 removes the ubiquitination of CtIP to facilitate the phosphorylation and activation of CtIP at Thr-847. In addition, USP52 is phosphorylated by ATM at Ser-1003 after DNA damage, which enhances the catalytic activity of USP52. Furthermore, depletion of USP52 sensitizes cells to PARP inhibition in a CtIP-dependent manner in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, our findings reveal the key role of USP52 and the regulatory complexity of CtIP deubiquitination in DNA repair.
Generation: A Novel Fabrication Game for Simulating Evolution and Natural Selection

3D printers are becoming increasingly accessible to the average consumer, however their potential utility within games has yet to be fully explored. Integrating 3D printer fabrication technology within game design presents a novel means for engaging players and providing them with tangible representations of gameplay elements. This in turn could be employed to increase embodied gameplay and even embodied learning for the player. In this paper, we present a novel "fabrication game" designed to teach basic evolutionary concepts. In the game, players take turns physically assembling components 3D printed in real-time to iteratively evolve their creatures and observe the impact of their evolutionary choices on a digital population simulation. We discuss the potential of this game's unique design in leveraging real-time fabrication of tangibles to enhance a player's understanding of principles of evolution and natural selection.
Mobile applications for emerging adults transitioning to independent diabetes monitoring.

Access to high-quality mhealth tools for diabetes management is critical. The purpose was to systematically review mobile apps for features relevant to helping emerging adults manage their diabetes...
Interleukin-6 Blockade With Tocilizumab in Anakinra-Refractory Febrile Infection-Related Epilepsy Syndrome (FIRES):

Febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES) is characterized by new onset refractory status epilepticus in a previously healthy child that is associated with poor cognitive outcomes and chronic epilepsy. Innate immune system dysfunction is hypothesized to be a key etiologic contributor, with a potential role for immunotherapy blocking pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1β and interleukin-6. We present a case of FIRES refractory to anakinra, an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, subsequently treated with the ketogenic diet and tocilizumab, an interleukin-6 receptor antagonist, temporally associated with seizure cessation and a favorable 1-year outcome.
SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Oral Health: Therapeutic Opportunities and Challenges

The novel corona virus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), and the disease it causes, COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease-2019) have had multi-faceted effects on a number of lives on a global scale both directly and indirectly. A growing body of evidence suggest that COVID-19 patients experience several oral health problems such as dry mouth, mucosal blistering, mouth rash, lip necrosis, and loss of taste and smell. Periodontal disease (PD), a severe inflammatory gum disease, may worsen the symptoms associated with COVID-19. Routine dental and periodontal treatment may help decrease the symptoms of COVID-19. PD is more prevalent among patients experiencing metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular risk. Studies have shown that these patients are highly susceptible for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress known to contribute to the development of PD and other metabolic diseases are highly elevated among COVID-19 patients. Periodontal health may help to determine the severity of COVID-19 infection. Accumulating evidence shows that African-Americans (AAs) and vulnerable populations are disproportionately susceptible to PD, metabolic diseases and COVID-19 compared to other ethnicities in the United States. Dentistry and dental healthcare professionals are particularly susceptible to this virus due to the transferability via the oral cavity and the use of aerosol creating instruments that are ubiquitous in this field. In this review, we attempt to provide a comprehensive and updated source of information about SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 and the various effects it has had on the dental profession and patients visits to dental clinics. Finally, this review is a valuable resource for the management of oral hygiene and reduction of the severity of infection.
Monotonic-HMDs: Exploiting Monotonic Features to Defend Against Evasive Malware

Machine learning-based hardware malware detectors (HMDs) offer a potential game-changing advantage in defending systems against malware. However, HMDs suffer from adversarial attacks; they can be effectively reverse-engineered and subsequently be evaded, allowing malware to hide from detection. Adversarial evasion attacks requires adding benign features to the program execution to be able to evade detection. Against these attacks, in this paper, we propose MonotonicHMDs, which are HMDs built using monotonic features to defend against adversarial evasion attacks. Specifically, MonotonicHMDs are build using monotonic malicious features only. Thus, Monotonic-HMDs ensures that an adversary cannot evade the detection by simply adding benign features to the malware programs since they are not used in the Monotonic-HMD model. In addition, adding malicious features will only increase the probability of detecting the input program as malware. Our experimental results demonstrate that Monotonic-HMDs offer effective defense against adversarial attacks without sacrificing significant detection accuracy, which can be interpreted as a cost for security in classifying malware. Importantly, our results shows that for evasive malware that can completely evade current HMDs, the proposed Monotonic-HMDs achieve 83% detection accuracy and maintain this accuracy even under more aggressive attacks. Moreover, Monotonic-HMDs reduce the inference time, i.e., time to perform one detection, by 61.11%. Furthermore, the hardware implementation results of the Monotonic-HMDs shows that Monotonic-HMDs offers area and power consumption savings compared to current HMDs.
Exploring the Feasibility of Using 3-D XPoint as an In-Memory Computing Accelerator

This article describes how 3-D XPoint memory arrays can be used as in-memory computing accelerators. We first show that thresholded matrix-vector multiplication (TMVM), the fundamental computational kernel in many applications including machine learning (ML), can be implemented within a 3-D XPoint array without requiring data to leave the array for processing. Using the implementation of TMVM, we then discuss the implementation of a binary neural inference engine. We discuss the application of the core concept to address issues such as system scalability, where we connect multiple 3-D XPoint arrays, and power integrity, where we analyze the parasitic effects of metal lines on noise margins. To assure power integrity within the 3-D XPoint array during this implementation, we carefully analyze the parasitic effects of metal lines on the accuracy of the implementations. We quantify the impact of parasitics on limiting the size and configuration of a 3-D XPoint array, and estimate the maximum acceptable size of a 3-D XPoint subarray.
Existence, Uniqueness, Stability and Calculation of the Stationary Regimes in Some Nonlinear Systems

Consider a passive one-loop system consisting of a linear two-port L, a nonlinear two-port N and an electromotive force e(t) which are sequentially joined. Let i be the current in the system, then uL = Zi is the voltage on L, i = F(u) where u = uN is the voltage on N, Z is a linear operator, F is a nonlinear operator. The governing equation is $$ u + ZFu = e $$ (1) or $$ Au + Fu = J,A = {Z^{{ - 1}}},J = Ae. $$ (2)
Analysis of Unsafe Driving Actions–Data Requirements and Methodological Issues

An approach to the study of driver behavior resulting in accidents is described. It involves the integration of statistical and clinical methods for assessing accident causation. Clinical data are used to identify and prioritize driver behaviors for study, and to assist in developing operational definitions and data collection protocols. Accident and comparable exposure data on the incidence and circumstances of each unsafe action are collected. These data are then compared and statistically evaluated to determine the frequency of such behaviors, the risk associated with their occurrence, and the magnitude and circumstances of their involvement in causing accidents. The need for such data in the development of countermeasure programs is described, and a preliminary listing of UDAs for study is presented.
Nonphysical abuse among batterer program participants

Nonphysical abuse of women is receiving increased attention, but research with “clinical” samples of batterers has not substantially addressed the risk markers of nonphysical abuse. A multisite sample of batterer program participants (n = 840) with a longitudinal 15-month follow-up was used to identify risk markers. Logistic regressions were computed with batterer characteristics for 4 categories of nonphysical abuse (i.e., control, verbal, threats, combined) reported by the batterer's female partners during the follow-up. The only substantial and consistent risk markers were nonphysical and physical abuse prior to program intake and program dropout. The programs appear to help reduce the abuse. Other significant risk markers varied across the categories of nonphysical abuse, suggesting that the categories do not form a continuum or hierarchy of abuse. Recurrent abuse, moreover, continues to be more difficult to predict in clinical samples than in the general population.
Newer Imaging Techniques for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Imaging has played a vital role in the clinical assessment of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) since its first recognition. In this review, how chest radiograph, computerized tomography (CT), nuclear medicine, and MRI have contributed to the understanding of BPD pathology and how emerging advancements in these methods, including low-dose and quantitative CT, sophisticated proton and hyperpolarized-gas MRI, influence the future of BPD imaging are discussed.
Magnetic anisotropy of Zn-Mn and Zn-Cr alloys below 1 K

Abstract Low field magnetization measurements on very dilute Zn-Mn and Zn-Cr single crystal alloys show a large anisotropy in the parallel and perpendicular directions below 1 K. Such behavior is analyzed in terms of fine structure splitting of the impurity 3d-states in the axial crystal field of the Zn host. The closest theoretical fit to our data using such a simplified model gives an effective impurity spin S = 1 for each system with the crystal field splitting D = −0.07 K for Zn-Mn and D = +0.08K for Zn-Cr.
The Transport of Low Density Lipoprotein-derived Cholesterol to the Plasma Membrane Is Defective in NPC1 Cells

Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) is characterized by lysosomal storage of cholesterol and gangliosides, which results from defects in intracellular lipid trafficking. Most studies of NPC1 have focused on its role in intracellular cholesterol movement. Our hypothesis is that NPC1 facilitates the egress of cholesterol from late endosomes, which are where active NPC1 is located. When NPC1 is defective, cholesterol does not exit late endosomes; instead, it is carried along to lysosomal storage bodies, where it accumulates. In this study, we addressed whether cholesterol is transported from endosomes to the plasma membrane before reaching NPC1-containing late endosomes. Our study was conducted in Chinese hamster ovary cell lines that display the classical NPC biochemical phenotype and belong to the NPC1 complementation group. We used three approaches to test whether low density lipoprotein (LDL)-derived cholesterol en route to NPC1-containing organelles passes through the plasma membrane. First, we used cyclodextrins to measure the arrival of LDL cholesterol at the plasma membrane and found that the arrival of LDL cholesterol in a cyclodextrin-accessible pool was significantly delayed in NPC1 cells. Second, the movement of LDL cholesterol to NPC1-containing late endosomes was assessed and found to be normal in Chinese hamster ovary mutant 3-6, which exhibits defective movement of plasma membrane cholesterol to intracellular membranes. Third, we examined the movement of plasma membrane cholesterol to the endoplasmic reticulum and found that this pathway is intact in NPC1 cells, i.e. it does not pass through NPC1-containing late endosomes. Our data suggest that in NPC1 cells LDL cholesterol traffics directly through endosomes to lysosomes, bypassing the plasma membrane, and is trapped there because of dysfunctional NPC1.
Detection of chondroitin sulfates and decorin in developing fetal and neonatal rat lung.

Chondroitin sulfates and their related proteoglycans are components of extracellular matrix that act as key determinants of growth and differentiation characteristics of developing lungs. Changes i...
Operators of fibered groups

Let (G,\(\mathcal{F}\)) denote a finite groupG with fibration\(\mathcal{F}\). The group Aut (G,\(\mathcal{F}\)) of operators of (G,\(\mathcal{F}\)) is closely related to the group of collineations of (G,\(\mathcal{F}\)). In this paper we investigate the geometric properties imposed on (G,\(\mathcal{F}\)) by requiring that Aut (G,\(\mathcal{F}\))=AutG. We find that in many instances this algebraic property restricts the geometry to a very special form.
The effect of perceived class mean on the evaluation of instruction

A total of 232 college students in six different courses in three departments participated in a study to examine the effect of perceived course mean on course and instructor evaluations. Following a midsemester exam, students were given their actual earned exam scores and a manipulated class mean that was either ten percentage points higher or lower than the actual class average on the exam. Participants then completed an evaluation of the course and instructor. It was hypothesized that students scoring above the manipulated mean would rate the course and instructor more highly than students scoring below the manipulated mean. It was further hypothesized that students who were told that the class mean was higher would rate the course and instructor more highly than students who were told that the mean was lower. Results supported the first hypothesis. However, hypothesis two was not supported. Students receiving the lower manipulated class mean rated instructors more favorably. Results suggest the need to consider both individual exam scores and class averages in understanding the grade-teaching evaluation relationship.
High TNF-α levels in resting B cells negatively correlate with their response.

Aging significantly decreases the influenza vaccine-specific response as we and others have previously shown. Based on our previous data in aged mice, we hypothesize that the inflammatory status of the individual and of B cells themselves would impact B cell function. We here show that the ability to generate a vaccine-specific antibody response is negatively correlated with levels of serum TNF-α. Moreover, human unstimulated B cells from elderly make higher levels of TNF-α than those from young individuals, and these positively correlate with serum TNF-α levels. These all negatively correlate with B cell function, measured by activation-induced cytidine deaminase, the enzyme of class switch recombination and somatic hypermutation. Only memory B cells (either IgM or switched), but not naive B cells, make appreciable levels of TNF-α and more in elderly as compared to young individuals. Finally, an anti-TNF-α antibody can increase the response in cultured B cells from the elderly, suggesting that TNF-α secreted by memory B cells affects IgM memory B cells and naive B cells in an autocrine and/or paracrine manner. Our results show an additional mechanism for reduced B cell function in the elderly and propose B cell-derived TNF-α as another predictive biomarker of in vivo and in vitro B cell responses.
Trends in Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry in the United States, 2000–2009

Abstract After a decade of policies encouraging dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) use, Medicare incrementally decreased reimbursement for non–facility-based DXAs, effective 2007. This study quantifies trends in central DXA use before and after the reimbursement change. Using 2000–2009 claims data, we selected subjects aged 50+ yr with Medicare supplemental or commercial insurance. The central site DXA test (using CPT codes) rate was calculated within each calendar quarter as the number of patients with a DXA test divided by the total number of patients. Piecewise linear regression was used to quantify change in DXA rates coincident with the 2007 reimbursement reductions. During 2000–2009, slightly over 5 million DXA tests were conducted. Annual rates for females with Medicare steadily increased until 2007, when they leveled off; a similar pattern was observed for the commercially insured. Regression modeling showed that pre-2007 rates increased annually by 0.76% (0.72–0.80) and 0.76% (0.70–0.82) among those with Medicare supplemental and commercial insurance, respectively, and over 2007–2009, rates changed annually by +0.07% (−0.05% to 0.19%) and −0.12% (−0.29% to 0.04%), respectively. During 2007–2009, there were 3.1 (2.4–3.8) and 4.0 (3.1–4.9) fewer tests per 100 person years for females with Medicare supplemental and commercial insurance, respectively, than would have been expected based on the pre-2007 trend. The post-2007 DXA rate was lower than what would have been expected had the observed trend of increasing annual DXA rates from 2000 to 2007 continued unabated beyond the Medicare reimbursement change in 2007. Continuing to provide access to DXA testing for women at increased risk of osteoporosis is important to providing high-quality care for metabolic bone disease in the United States.
The Determination of Vapor Pressures of Low Viscosity Lubricants from Distillation Data

The vapor pressure of low viscosity aliphatic hydrocarbon lubricants is shown to be determined with good accuracy from data obtained from a modification of the ASTM Distillation Test D86-67. This test gives the initial boiling point of a lubricant from which the vapor pressure at any other temperature can be calculated by use of an empirical equation relating the boiling point to the vapor pressure. Two other equations were derived, one relating the viscosity of an aliphatic hydrocarbon lubricant to the vapor pressure at any temperature, and the other extending the use of this distillation method to calculation of the vapor pressures of other types of lubricants as, for example, esters, alcohols, and acids. The data presented indicate that this method is superior to the isoteniscope method in accuracy and ease of operation. Presented at the 25th ASLE Annual Meeting in Chicago, May 4–8, 1970
A Temporally Based Framework and Taxonomy of Team Processes

In this article we examine the meaning of team process. We first define team process in the context of a multiphase episodic framework related to goal accomplishment, arguing that teams are multitasking units that perform multiple processes simultaneously and sequentially to orchestrate goal-directed taskwork. We then advance a taxonomy of team process dimensions synthesized from previous research and theorizing. a taxonomy that reflects our time-based conceptual framework. We conclude with implications for future research and application.
CFD Modeling of Transient Flow Phenomena in an Axial Flow VAD

A ventricular assist device (VAD) effectively relieves the workload from a native heart, which has been weakened by disease, and increases blood flow supplied to the body to maintain normal physiologic function. The device must be able to operate over a wide range of conditions. Designed to operate at a single, best-efficiency operating point, it must frequently perform at off-design conditions due to a fluctuating flow rate demanded by the human body and a time varying flow within the pump, due to the beating of the native heart. The design and optimization of a blood pump is a challenging and complex process. Pump design equations are used to estimate the initial dimensions of the pump regions. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses are then performed to optimize the blood flow path according to specific design criteria under steady flow conditions [1].Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Autoradiographic evidence that intrastriatal administration of adenosine A1 receptor antisense oligodeoxynucleotide decreases adenosine A1 receptors in the rat striatum and cortex

In this study, the effect of a phosphorothioated A(1) adenosine receptor antisense oligodeoxynucleotide on A(1) receptor density and mRNA in the striatum and cortex of rats was determined. Receptor autoradiography and in situ hybridization revealed a reduction in striatal and cortical A(1) receptor density and cortical A(1) receptor mRNA, respectively, in antisense-treated brains but not in those treated with a mismatch oligonucleotide. There was no change in A(2) receptor binding. These data imply that the corticostriatal pathway synthesizes A(1) receptors and transports them to its terminals.
Chemical composition and size distributions for fly ashes

Abstract Inter-particle variations in particle diameter and chemical composition in coal fly ashes are significant, and can be quantitatively studied using currently available microanalytical techniques. One such technique, computer controlled scanning electron microscopy (CCSEM), is now routinely used to determine chemical compositions and diameters of individual fly ash particles, using statistically significant sample sizes. This paper proposes simple mathematical formulae for expressing the inter-particle variations. Additionally, these formulae can be used for economically storing the large amount of data generated by CCSEM. Two apparent limitations of the CCSEM technique are discussed — one relating to the measurement of size distribution, and the other to determining the iron oxide distribution in the ash. These limitations are imposed by statistical considerations, and by artifacts of sample preparation techniques.
Giving a Helping Hand to a Hunger Program: Combining Service Learning and Managerial Communication Basics

Abstract This article is an overview of a freshman-level managerial communication class project. It provides a successful method of overcoming time constraints while maintaining instructional relevance and reaping the benefits of service learning.
L- and T-type calcium currents differ in finch and rat ventricular cardiomyocytes.

We comparedl-type Ca current (ICaL) andt-type Ca current (ICaT) in finch and rat myocytes, using whole-cell patch clamp techniques. Cell capacitance averaged 50±4 pF in finch (n=25)v145±8 pF in rat (n=38) cells,P<0.001. In cells bathed in 1 mmCaoat 22°C, peakICaLamplitude, during a voltage clamp step (10 mmEGTA in pipette) from −45 mV to −5 mV, averaged 10.5±0.3 pA/pF in finchv6.9±0.6 pA/pF,P<0.001 in rat cells.ICaLinactivation kinetics were faster in finch (4.6±0.3 ms) than in rat (13.4±1.3 ms) cells,P<0.001.ICaTwas not detectable in rat cells (2 mmbathing [Ca]); but in finch cells, a largeICaTwhich averaged 6.8±1.4 pA/pF was activated at −30 mV and was relatively insensitive to nitrendipine (0.1μm). The distinctive features ofICaLandICaTin finch cells may have a role in the ability of the finch to achieve a very rapid heart rate. They may also facilitate excitation-Ca2+release coupling in finch ventricular cells which are devoid of T tubules and have relatively few junctions between the sarcolemma and the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
Oxygen consumption and life span in the adult male housefly, Musca domestica

The object of this study was to re-examine the quantitative relationship between metabolic rate and life span postulated by the rate of living hypothesis. The metabolic rate of the adult male flies was experimentally altered by varying the level of physical activity and ambient temperature. Lowering of physical activity and ambient temperature increased the life span of the flies. Metabolic rates of flies in all groups declined during older age, however, the relative decrease was greater in the high activity flies as compared to the low activity flies. The total amount of oxygen consumption, till average life span, was nearly equal in the low and high activity flies maintained at the same temperature, but this amount was 12–15% greater in flies maintained at 18°C than at 25°C. The results support the postulates of the rate of living hypothesis. The possible reasons for the differences in the metabolic potentials at different temperatures are discussed.
Nonlinear and semilinear rheology of porous solids

The nonlinear and semilinear mechanics of porous solids is developed in terms of the Cartesian definition of finite strain and a local rotation field. It is based on modern developments in irreversible thermodynamics and viscoelasticity. This particular approach provides a method of introducing an essential feature of porous solids referred to here as semilinearity. The linear behavior is represented by a linear dependence of the volume of the individual grains on stresses and pressure. The nonlinear behavior is then mainly a consequence of local geometric effects such as changes in contact areas, crack closure, etc. Under these conditions it is shown that seven physical constants describe the semilinear properties of an isotropic porous solid. Viscoelastic behavior is analyzed in the semilinear context, and a plastic flow condition is also formulated in terms of the effective stress. Nonlinear equations for the displacement field are derived in which a Cartesian representation is used. The equations are found to be relatively simple and are directly applicable to semilinear materials. It is also shown how the present Cartesian semilinear formulation leads to variational principles and Lagrangian equations that bring the theory within the more general framework of modern developments in nonlinear irreversible thermodynamics.
A Sensitive Method to Quantitate Gangliosides of The Gangliotetraose Series Directly on Chromatograms Using Peroxidase Conjugated Cholera Toxin

A method is described whereby ganglioside GM1 can be quantitated directly on thin-layer chromatograms using cholera toxin subunit B conjugated to horseradish peroxidase and visualized with chloronaphthol. Overlay and color development were performed after separating gangliosides on nano-TLC plates, and fixing with polyisobutylmethacrylate. Absolute quantitation was realized using a Shimadzu CS-9000 integrating spectrodensitometer, scanning at 580 nm. A correlation coefficient of 0.98 was obtained in a linear range of detection from 10(-11) to 10(-16) moles. Statistical analysis revealed good reproducibility and over 99% of the added gangliosides remained with the chromatogram during all overlay and washing procedures. By comparison, standard chemical visualization by resorcinol-HCl was linear in the nanomole range with a detection limit of only 10(-10) moles. Since the carbohydrate portion of gangliosides immobilized in this manner is susceptible to the action of enzymes including neuraminidase, this technique can be applied to all structures of the gangliotetraose series.
Beneficial effects of a new thromboxane synthetase inhibitor in arachidonate-induced sudden death.

Abstract UK-37,248, a potent thromboxane synthetase inhibitor, at a dose of 1 mg/kg dramatically protected against sudden death induced by injection of sodium arachidonate in rabbits. UK-37,248 significantly prevented the increase in circulating thromboxane B 2 concentrations and the pulmonary artery thrombosis usually observed following arachidonate injection. In addition to these actions related to thromboxane synthetase inhibition, UK-37,248 appeared to act as a specific thromboxane receptor antagonist in rabbit pulmonary arteries. This second action may also have implications in the prevention of sudden death.
A theory for the development of feature detecting cells in visual cortex.

Passive modification of the strength of synaptic junctions that results in the construction of internal mappings with some of the properties of memory is shown to lead to the development of Hubel-Wiesel type feature detectors in visual cortex. With such synaptic modification a cortical cell can become committed to an arbitrary but repeated external pattern, and thus fire every time the pattern is presented even if that cell has no genetic pre-disposition to respond to the particular pattern. The additional assumption of lateral inhibition between cortical cells severely limits the number of cells which respond to one pattern as well as the number of patterns that are picked up by a cell. The introduction of a simple neural mapping from the visual field to the lateral geniculate leads to an interaction between patterns which, combined with our assumptions above, seems to lead to a progression of patterns from column to column of the type observed by Hubel and Wiesel in monkey.
Novel pH-sensitive cationic lipids with linear ortho ester linkers for gene delivery

In an effort to develop pH-sensitive lipoplexes for efficient gene delivery, we report three novel cationic lipids containing a linear ortho ester linker that conjugates either the headgroup (Type I) or one hydrocarbon chain (Type II) with the rest of the lipid molecule. The cationic lipids carry either an iodide or a chloride counterion. Compared to our previously reported cyclic ortho ester linker, the linear ortho ester linker facilitated the construction of cationic liposomes and lipoplexes with different helper lipids. The chloride counterion not only facilitated the hydration of the lipid films during liposome construction, but also enhanced the hydrolysis of the ortho ester linker in the lipoplexes. After incubation at endosomal pH 5.5, the Type I lipoplexes aggregated and destabilized the endosome-mimicking model liposomes, but not the Type II lipoplexes. The helper lipids (DOPE or cholesterol) of the lipoplexes enhanced the pH-sensitivity of the Type I lipoplexes. In CV-1 cells (monkey kidney fibroblast), the Type I ortho ester-based lipoplexes, especially those with the chloride counterion, significantly improved the gene transfection efficiency, in some cases by more than 100 fold, compared to their pH-insensitive counterparts consisting of DOTAP. The gene transfection efficiency of the ortho ester-based lipoplexes was well correlated with their rate of aggregation and membrane destabilization in response to the endosomal pH 5.5.
Implementation and comparison of reconstruction algorithms for two-dimensional optoacoustic tomography using a linear array

Our goal is to compare and contrast various image reconstruction algorithms for optoacoustic tomography (OAT) assuming a finite linear aperture of the kind that arises when using a linear-array transducer. Because such transducers generally have tall, narrow elements, they are essentially insensitive to out-of-plane acoustic waves, and the usually 3-D OAT problem reduces to a 2-D problem. Algorithms developed for the 3-D problem may not perform optimally in 2-D. We have implemented and evaluated a number of previously described OAT algorithms, including an exact (in 3-D) Fourier-based algorithm and a synthetic-aperture-based algorithm. We have also implemented a 2-D algorithm developed by Norton for reflection mode tomography that has not, to the best of our knowledge, been applied to OAT before. Our simulation studies of resolution, contrast, noise properties, and signal detectability measures suggest that Norton's approach-based algorithm has the best contrast, resolution, and signal detectability.
c-Cbl Facilitates Endocytosis and Lysosomal Degradation of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator in Human Airway Epithelial Cells

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a cAMP-activated Cl− channel expressed in the apical membrane of fluid-transporting epithelia. The apical membrane density of CFTR channels is determined, in part, by endocytosis and the postendocytic sorting of CFTR for lysosomal degradation or recycling to the plasma membrane. Although previous studies suggested that ubiquitination plays a role in the postendocytic sorting of CFTR, the specific ubiquitin ligases are unknown. c-Cbl is a multifunctional molecule with ubiquitin ligase activity and a protein adaptor function. c-Cbl co-immunoprecipitated with CFTR in primary differentiated human bronchial epithelial cells and in cultured human airway cells. Small interfering RNA-mediated silencing of c-Cbl increased CFTR expression in the plasma membrane by inhibiting CFTR endocytosis and increased CFTR-mediated Cl− currents. Silencing c-Cbl did not change the expression of the ubiquitinated fraction of plasma membrane CFTR. Moreover, the c-Cbl mutant with impaired ubiquitin ligase activity (FLAG-70Z-Cbl) did not affect the plasma membrane expression or the endocytosis of CFTR. In contrast, the c-Cbl mutant with the truncated C-terminal region (FLAG-Cbl-480), responsible for protein adaptor function, had a dominant interfering effect on the endocytosis and plasma membrane expression of CFTR. Moreover, CFTR and c-Cbl co-localized and co-immunoprecipitated in early endosomes, and silencing c-Cbl reduced the amount of ubiquitinated CFTR in early endosomes. In summary, our data demonstrate that in human airway epithelial cells, c-Cbl regulates CFTR by two mechanisms: first by acting as an adaptor protein and facilitating CFTR endocytosis by a ubiquitin-independent mechanism, and second by ubiquitinating CFTR in early endosomes and thereby facilitating the lysosomal degradation of CFTR.