cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
‘Conserved hypothetical’ proteins: prioritization of targets for experimental study

Comparative genomics shows that a substantial fraction of the genes in sequenced genomes encodes ‘conserved hypothetical’ proteins, i.e. those that are found in organisms from several phylogenetic lineages but have not been functionally characterized. Here, we briefly discuss recent progress in functional characterization of prokaryotic ‘conserved hypothetical’ proteins and the possible criteria for prioritizing targets for experimental study. Based on these criteria, the chief one being wide phyletic spread, we offer two ‘top 10’ lists of highly attractive targets. The first list consists of proteins for which biochemical activity could be predicted with reasonable confidence but the biological function was predicted only in general terms, if at all (‘known unknowns’). The second list includes proteins for which there is no prediction of biochemical activity, even if, for some, general biological clues exist (‘unknown unknowns’). The experimental characterization of these and other ‘conserved hypothetical’ proteins is expected to reveal new, crucial aspects of microbial biology and could also lead to better functional prediction for medically relevant human homologs.
Discussion on paper ‘The electrical resistance response of continuous carbon fibre composite laminates to mechanical strain’ by N. Angelidis, C.Y. Wei and P.E. Irving, Composites: Part A 35, 1135–1147 (2004)

The paper ‘‘The electrical resistance response of continuous carbon fibre composite laminates to mechanical strain’’ by Angelidis et al. (2004), as explained in this communication, contains questionable experimental results and questionable interpretation of experimental results.
Age effects in backward visual masking (crawford paradigm)

Abstract Fifteen Ss in each of four age groups (5-, 10-, 16-, and 22–23-years old) received backward visual masking. Group effects occurred at longer ISIs indicating slower prerecognition processing for younger Ss. In a second experiment 19-, 35-, and 55-year-old Ss were administered backward visual masking under the identical procedures of Exp. 1. The oldest Ss performed significantly worse than 19- and 35-year-old Ss, which did not differ significantly from each other. The general methodological features of both studies, as well as the obtained relationships were discussed.
Understanding, grasping and luck

Recently, it has been debated as to whether understanding is a species of explanatory knowledge. Those who deny this claim frequently argue that understanding, unlike knowledge, can be lucky. In this paper I argue that current arguments do not support this alleged compatibility between understanding and epistemic luck. First, I argue that understanding requires reliable explanatory evaluation, yet the putative examples of lucky understanding underspecify the extent to which subjects possess this ability. In the course of defending this claim, I also provide a new account of the kind of ‘grasping’ taken to be central to understanding. Second, I show that putative examples of lucky understanding unwittingly deploy a kind of luck that is compatible with knowledge. Finally, appealing to a number of works on explanation and its attendant epistemology, I argue that alleged instances of lucky understanding that overcome these two obstacles will invariably violate certain norms of explanatory inquiry – our paradigmatic understanding-oriented practice. By contrast, knowledge of the same information is immune to these criticisms. Consequently, if understanding is environmentally lucky, it is always inferior to the understanding that a corresponding case of knowledge would provide.
Developing a business model for product environmental stewardship within IBM

Business models provide the needed structure for implementation of business ideas in order to achieve a tangible end result, such as a product or service, which can be marketed and sold. Business models often rely on building blocks and the processes and communications between those building blocks to create a formalized structure needed in a successful business. IBM Systems and Technology Group (STG) uses a business model based on the Environmental Management System as outlined in ISO 14001 to produce Information Technology (IT) products, such as servers, storage and retail store products which comply with environmental laws and regulations worldwide and which are favorably positioned to meet future environmental regulations. This organization, within IBM's STG division is referred to as the Product Environmental Stewardship program. The business model outlines the compliance process with both tactical and strategic aspects.
Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis With Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis is a rare condition characterized by sterile pustules on erythematous and edematous tissue. Mostly drug induced, this condition can also be caused by other factors. Cases due to vancomycin are rare. A 67-year-old woman with cellulitis of the left lower extremity was admitted with marked bilateral lymphedema of the lower extremities and diffuse erythema of the left lower extremity from foot to knee. She was given clindamycin and then vancomycin. On day 5, her condition worsened, with erythema involving the entire back. Although treatment with clindamycin and vancomycin was discontinued, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis developed. After successful treatment of other complications, the skin condition improved. Because vancomycin is frequently used, clinicians should be aware of the possibility of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis. Because the pustulosis decreases after withdrawal of the causative drug, being able to diagnose and differentiate the abnormality from other conditions is prudent.
Motivating Students with Disabilities to Prepare for SEM Careers

The National Science Foundation funded the project Enabling SUCCESS (Enabling Students to Undertake the Challenge of Careers in Engineering and Science) at Louisiana Tech University beginning in 1996. The goals of this three-year project were to: stimulate student interest in science, engineering, and mathematics (SEM); heighten the awareness among middle school students, their families, and their science teachers of the opportunities for persons with disabilities in these fields; and provide them with an understanding of the importance of career exploration and taking appropriate college preparatory courses in high school. The project at Louisiana Tech University built upon twenty years of experience in applying assistive technology to the needs of people with disabilities and a ten-year history of national educational reform initiatives. The project staff included engineering and science professors, teacher educators, college students, practicing engineers and scientists with disabilities, and rehabilitation technology professionals. A unique feature of this project was its focus on middle school students (grades six through nine) with disabilities, their parents, and their teachers. Through on-campus workshops and showcases, home science activities, and college student mentoring, the project sought to inform and motivate. This paper summarizes the major activities of the model project and the results of the three-year effort.
Antipsychotic-Induced Insulin Resistance and Postprandial Hormonal Dysregulation Independent of Weight Gain or Psychiatric Disease

Atypical antipsychotic (AAP) medications that have revolutionized the treatment of mental illness have become stigmatized by metabolic side effects, including obesity and diabetes. It remains controversial whether the defects are treatment induced or disease related. Although the mechanisms underlying these metabolic defects are not understood, it is assumed that the initiating pathophysiology is weight gain, secondary to centrally mediated increases in appetite. To determine if the AAPs have detrimental metabolic effects independent of weight gain or psychiatric disease, we administered olanzapine, aripiprazole, or placebo for 9 days to healthy subjects (n = 10, each group) under controlled in-patient conditions while maintaining activity levels. Prior to and after the interventions, we conducted a meal challenge and a euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp to evaluate insulin sensitivity and glucose disposal. We found that olanzapine, an AAP highly associated with weight gain, causes significant elevations in postprandial insulin, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), and glucagon coincident with insulin resistance compared with placebo. Aripiprazole, an AAP considered metabolically sparing, induces insulin resistance but has no effect on postprandial hormones. Importantly, the metabolic changes occur in the absence of weight gain, increases in food intake and hunger, or psychiatric disease, suggesting that AAPs exert direct effects on tissues independent of mechanisms regulating eating behavior.
A critical assessment of risk classification systems for the mountain pine beetle

Abstract Hazard/risk systems developed for mountain pine beetle management traditionally have attempted to describe the potential for timber loss in pine stands due to outbreak phase populations. A variety of stand and site characteristics, as well as climatic conditions, have been used. In this study, four hazard/risk systems were evaluated using data from 105 stands in northern Montana. None of the systems evaluated were found to predict adequately mountain pine beetle induced mortality which occurred in the test stands. Possible reasons for the lack of predictive ability of these systems include: (1) confusion in terminology used in hazard/risk rating for mountain pine beetle; (2) lack of consideration of the mountain pine beetle population phase (e.g. endemic or epidemic) during rating system development; (3) the need to include more information concerning mountain pine beetle population dynamics; (4) the need for inclusion of the spatial nature of both beetle populations and stand conditions.
Ultrafine-pitch C2 flip chip interconnections with solder-capped Cu pillar bumps

PoP structures have been used widely in digital consumer electronics products such as digital still cameras and mobile phones. However, the final stack height from the top to the bottom package for these structures is higher than that of the current stacked die packages. To reduce the height of the package, a flip chip technology is used. Since the logic chips of mobile applications use a pad pitch of less than 80 µm or less, an ultra-fine-pitch flip chip interconnection technique is required. C4 flip chip technology is widely used in area array flip chip packages, but it is not suitable in the ultrafine-pitch flip chips because the C4 solder bumps melt and collapse on the wide opening Cu pads. Although the industry uses ultrafine-pitch interconnections between Au stud bumps on a chip and Sn/Ag pre-solder on a carrier, this flip chip technique has two major problems. One is that the need for bumps on both die and carrier drives up material costs. The other is that the long bonding process time required in the individual flip chip bonding process with associated heating and cooling steps demands large investments in equipment. To address these problems, we developed the mount and reflow with no-clean flux processes, and new interconnection techniques were developed with Cu pillars and Sn/Ag solder bumps on Al pads for wirebonding, were developed. It is very easy to control the gap between die and substrate by adjusting the Cu pillar height. Since it is unnecessary to control the collapse of the solder bumps, we call this the C2 process for direct Chip Connection (C2). The C2 bumps are connected to Cu substrate pads, which are a surface treated with OSP (Organic Solder Preservative), with reflow and no-clean processes. This technology creates the SMT/Flip Chip hybrid assembly for SoP (System on Package) use. We have produced 50 µm-pitch C2 interconnections and tested their reliability. The interconnection resistance increase caused by the reliability testing is quite small. It is clear that C2 flip chip technology provides robust solder connections at low cost. Also the C2 structure with a low-k device was evaluated and no failures were observed at 1,500 cycles in the thermal cycle test. This indicates that low-k C2 structures seem robust. For finer pitch flip chip interconnections, a wafer-level underfill process is needed to overcome the limitations of the standard capillary underfill process for ultra-narrow spaces. To date, a wafer- level underfill process exists for the C2 process with an 80-µm pitch. In addition to fine pitch interconnections, a die thickness of 70 µm is required to reduce the final stack height. Such thin die cannot be processed by the C2 process because such dies slip too easily during the reflow process. To resolve this issue, a Post-Encapsulation Grinding (PEG) method was developed. In this method the die is ground to less than 70 µm after joining and underfilling. This report presents the PEG method and reliability test results for die thicknesses 20 µm, 70 µm and 150 µm.
Heparinized shed blood: the “second-hit” of acute lung injury (ALI) in trauma/hemorrhagic shock (T/HS) models

METHODS: Fifty swine were anesthetized, intubated, ventilated, and monitoring lines placed. Grade V liver injury was performed followed by 30 minutes of hemorrhage. After 30 minutes, liver was packed, and randomized, blinded fluid resuscitation was initiated over a 12-minute period with two liters normal saline (NS), two liters lactated Ringer’s (LR), 250 mL 7.5% saline with 3% Dextran (HTS), 500 mL Hextend, or no fluid (NF). Animals were monitored for 2 hours post-injury. Thrombelastograms (TEGs), PT, and fibrinogen were drawn at baseline, 1 hour, and 2 hours.
Allergic contact dermatitis: Correlation of in vivo confocal imaging to routine histology

Abstract Background: Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a common and often challenging clinical problem. In vivo near-infrared confocal reflectance microscopy (CM) is a new vital microscopy technique. Objective: CM was used to evaluate acute ACD. Methods: Patch testing by means of Finn Chambers technique was performed in 5 subjects to induce an acute allergic skin reaction. Noninvasive CM images from normal and eczematous skin were sequentially recorded before and after removal of the Finn Chambers. Results: The epidermis and papillary dermis were clearly seen in high resolution. Retention of nuclei in stratum corneum, epidermal edema with microvesicle formation, and transepidermal migration of inflammatory cells were observed in vivo. Isolated dendritic cells were present in the ACD sites of 2 subjects, with morphology, size, and location consistent with Langerhans cells. Dermal vasodilation was observed as well. Conclusion: CM is a useful tool to study ACD and may be able to track Langerhans cell activation.(J Am Acad Dermatol 1999;40:708-13.)
Evaluating the Impact of Integrated Pest Management on Agriculture and the Environment in the Texas Panhandle 1

ABSTRACT: Agricultural producers in the Texas High Plains are facing the worst comparativeeconomic conditions since 1913. Under these circumstances it is desirable to evaluate whichprograms are beneficial and which are not. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a concept thatwas introduced in the Texas High Plains in 1976. Over the years many IPM practices have beenadopted for the four major crops; corn, cotton, sorghum, and wheat. These practices have beencost or labor saving and have reduced the number and amount of chemical applications. Thereduction in production cost is used as a measure of the economic benefit. Contingent valuationis used to estimate the value of the environmental benefit. The IPM practices, which have beenadopted, reduce the production cost by more than $173 million per year. In addition thesepractices have reduced environmental costs, as estimated by contingent valuation, by more than$99 million per year. The total value of the economic and environmental benefit accruing to theTexas High Plains due to the adoption of IPM practices on the four major crops exceeds $272million per year.
Tools for Continuously Evaluating Distributed System Qualities

Developers are increasingly using service-oriented middleware to develop distributed systems. This middleware raises the abstraction level for software so that distributed-system developers can focus more on application-level concerns (for instance, business logic) rather than wrestle with infrastructure-level concerns (such as software adaptation, context-awareness, and life-cycle management). Service-oriented middleware also promotes reuse of business logic and services across heterogeneous application domains, thus facilitating the development of larger, more complex systems.
Automated detection of fecal contamination of apples by multispectral laser-induced fluorescence imaging.

Animal feces are a suspected source of contamination of apples by disease-causing organisms such as Escherichia coli O157. Laser-induced fluorescence was used to detect different amounts of feces from dairy cows, deer, and a dairy pasture applied to Red Delicious apples. One day after application, detection for 1:2 and 1:20 dilutions was nearly 100%, and for 1:200 dilutions ( 80%. Detection after apples had been washed and brushed was lowest for pasture feces; detection for 1:2, 1:20, and 1:200 dilutions of feces was 100%, 30%, and 0%, respectively. This technology may encourage development of commercial systems for detecting fecal contamination of apples.
Structure of Glasses and Melts in the Na2O·GeO2·B2O3 System

Density and viscosity results are presented for ternary Na2O·GeO2·B2O3 melts (∼600° to 1300°C) and glasses containing as much as 35 mole % Na2O. Synthetic partial molar volume models indicate a fairly broad stability region for BO4 tetrahedra in the B2O3-rich melts. Similar models for GeO2-rich melts reveal a more limited stability region for GeO6 octahedra. The expansion coefficient contours and viscosity isotherms confirm the volume-based conclusions for the liquid state. The high-temperature volume models were used to develop glass volume models that agree to within several percent of experiment. It has been concluded that the melts and glasses possess similar structures. The relatively greater compositional stability of GeO6 octahedra in the presence of B2O3 (compared to Al2O3) can be related to the smaller average number of oxygens around boron (III), at a fixed O/Ge ratio, compared to aluminum (III). Evidence is presented for a slight decrease of the thermal stability of GeO6 octahedra in the GeO2-rich melts above about 1000°C.
High-stability transfer of an optical frequency over long fiber-optic links

We present theoretical predictions and experimental measurements for the achievable phase noise, timing jitter, and frequency stability in the coherent transport of an optical frequency over a fiber-optic link. Both technical and fundamental limitations to the coherent transfer are discussed. Measurements of the coherent transfer of an optical carrier over links ranging from 38 to 251 km demonstrate good agreement with theory. With appropriate experimental design and bidirectional transfer on a single optical fiber, the frequency instability at short times can reach the fundamental limit imposed by delay-unsuppressed phase noise from the fiber link, yielding a frequency instability that scales as link length to the 3/2 power. For two-way transfer on separate outgoing and return fibers, the instability is severely limited by differential fiber noise.
Multilocus Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat Analysis and Plasmid Profiling To Study the Occurrence of blaCMY-2 within a Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis-Defined Clade of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium circulating in food animal populations and carrying resistance to antimicrobial agents represents a human health risk. Recently, a new clade of S. Typhimurium, WA-TYP035/187, was reported in cattle and humans in the Pacific Northwest, United States of America. The objective of this study was to describe a possible mechanism of acquisition of expanded-spectrum cephalosporin resistance in this clade. Ceftazidime resistance increased steadily among WA-TYP035/187 isolates, from 0% (0/2) in 1999 to 77.8% (28/36) in 2006 (χ2 for linear trend, P value of <0.001). Among 112 bovine-source and 18 human-source isolates, 49 (43.8%) and 12 (66.7%) were resistant to ceftazidime, respectively. Multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) and plasmid profiling suggested that resistance was acquired by multiple independent genetic events within the WA-TYP035/187 clade. Given the lack of an obvious reservoir in species other than cattle and a parallel rise in ceftiofur resistance in the bovine-specific serovar Salmonella enterica serovar Dublin in the same time frame and region, selection pressure due to the use of the expanded-spectrum cephalosporin drug ceftiofur in cattle is a likely factor driving the increasing cephalosporin resistance of WA-TYP035/187.
ROOM USE AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION AT THE PETTIT SITE, WEST CENTRAL NEW MEXICO

This article reports the results of excavation at the Pettit site (LA 59484), a 154room pueblo near Ramah, New Mexico. The site dates to the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries A.D. Excavation of 67 rooms provides information on architectural plan, room size, and artifact and feature distribution. A model of room use is outlined, and a brief interpretive sketch of community social organization is presented.
Treatment of Chronic Dislocation of the Distal Radioulnar Joint: Comparative Studies Between Reconstruction and Resection of the Distal Ulna

From January 1981 until March 1990, a total of 32 cases of chronic dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint was treated surgically, and the follow-up results were compared between the group which underwent reconstruction and those who had resection of the distal ulna (the Darrach operation). The results obtained were as follows: (1) there was marked postoperative improvement in pain, range of motion, and grip strength in all 32 cases, and (2) in comparing the long-term follow-up results between the reconstruction (13 cases) and Darrach operation groups (19 cases), relief from pain was marked in the former, while the range of motion and grip strength scores were similar in both groups. It was concluded that the distal ulnar head and distal radioulnar joint were singularly important in preservation of normal wrist function. While various methods of treatment of distal radioulnar derangement are available, the results of reconstruction surgery are more favorable than those of the Darrach operation.
Calumet—Sag Navigation Project

Improvements to Calumet-Sag Channel connecting Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and Calumet River have been completed; barge tows four times larger than present tows will be able to move freely thro...
Improved Prediction Method for the Design of High-Resolution Total Pressure Distortion Screens

In ground test applications for simulated embedded engine systems, it is often necessary to forego direct-connect inlet/engine configurations and simulate inlet produced distortion profiles. Classically, this has been accomplished through the use of wire-mesh screens layered over a thick supporting grid. Other traditional approaches of distortion generation rely on active controls and/or empirical loss models for various geometries (such as airfoils, cylinders, and screens). These widely tabulated loss models limit the design of such device elements to those available in the literature. The freedom provided by advanced manufacturing methods would significantly expand the design space for such an application, giving rise to complex geometries that are not commercially available or feasible to manufacture. Therefore, an accurate distortion model relating total pressure losses to any geometry is necessary for a true design optimization of the distortion generator. This paper presents such a model by relating total pressure losses to various system interactions in classical fluid dynamic relationships. The total pressure loss models are formulated for incompressible and compressible flow conditions, where the total pressure across the screen is manipulated by either a mass exchange or adjusting the drag characteristics of the screen. This model is fully derived for the case of incompressible flow with drag, and validated against experimental data collected from a low-speed wind tunnel test. The accurate prediction of the reduced-order model with the low-speed results gives rise to a higher fidelity “continuous” screen in which every cell is tailored for a specific total pressure value.
MORPHOLOGY, OCCURRENCE, AND ZOOSPORE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF PODOCHYTRIUM DENTATUM SP. NOV. (CHYTRIDIALES)

Podochytrium dentatum occurred during spring and fall on chitin bait placed in a Maine lake. Zoospore ultrastructure is of the chytridialean type and is a variant of the Chytridium subtype. The zoosporangium forms from an apical expansion of the encysted zoospore. At maturity the dentate apical part of the zoosporangium, with orange contents, is separated from the basal part of the zoosporangium by a wall. Zoospores discharge in a mass surrounded by papillar material. Rhizoids branch from a knob-like rhizoidal base and are either fine or coarse.
Double Negative Index Metamaterial: Simultaneous Negative Permeability and Permittivity at 812 nm

A negative index metamaterial demonstrating n = −1.0 + 0.8i with both negative effective permittivity and permeability at 813 nm of linearly polarized light is fabricated. It also exhibits a negative refractive index at 772 nm for orthogonal polarization.
Abstract 5606: Hedgehog pathway is a novel therapeutic target in tamoxifen resistant breast cancer that protects from autophagic cell death and is aberrantly activated by PI3K/AKT signaling

Aims: Approximately 30-40% of patients with estrogen receptor positive (ER+) invasive breast cancer relapse despite targeted endocrine therapy with tamoxifen (TAM). Alternative cell survival mechanisms aberrantly activated over time supports tumor growth, upon blockade of estrogen dependent pathways by TAM. We have earlier identified Hedgehog (Hhg) signaling pathway as an alternative survival pathway activated in TAM resistant ER+ tumors (SABC Abst# 851859, 2011; S-9, 2010). We sought to determine if activation of Hhg pathway is critical for survival of the resistant cells, the mechanism underlying activation of this pathway, and determine if targeting such tumors with Hhg inhibitor would improve outcomes. Methods: SMO and GLI1 were depleted from TAM-resistant MCF7 (OHTR) and T47D cells using siRNA. These cells were tested in presence and absence of TAM for i) viability by MTT assay, ii) clonogenic survival, iii) apoptosis and autophagy by Western Blotting of respective markers. Pathway specific inhibitors were used to determine cross talk between Hhg pathway and different signaling pathways. Effect of GDC-0449, a small molecule inhibitor of SMO was tested on OHTR cell induced xenografts in athymic nude mice by monitoring tumor growth. Correlation of GLI1 expression in primary breast tumor tissues (assessed by IHC) and disease-free survival (DFS) was studied in women with ER+ breast cancer (N=230). Results: A. Depletion of SMO or GLI1 resulted in reduced cell proliferation, clonogenic survival and increased autophagy in TAM-resistant cells. We observed loss of p53 in SMO and GLI1 depleted cells as well as in Myc depleted cells. Expression of Myc, a Hhg target is reduced in SMO/GLI1 depleted cells, resulting in loss of p53. B. PI3K inhibitor Ly294002, inhibited GLI1 driven promoter activity, with simultaneous loss of SMO and GLI1 protein. Treatment with LiCl (GSK3B inhibitor) and/or MG132 (proteasome inhibitor) rescued these proteins from degradation. C. Proliferation of OHTR cells was significantly inhibited with GDC-0449 alone or TAM both in vitro and in vivo. D. Further, primary human ER+ breast tumors with high expression of GLI1 were associated with poor DFS in node-positive patients (p Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5606. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-5606
Meal patterns of macronutrient intake in rats with particular dietary preferences

In the present study, we examined, via computer-assisted analyses, the nocturnal meal patterns of male albino Sprague-Dawley rats with clear differences in their individual preferences for the macronutrients, protein, carbohydrate, and fat. Rats exhibiting a strong preference for the carbohydrate diet over the 12-h nocturnal cycle (approximately 50% of the group) consumed fewer total calories and relatively small, more frequent meals, compared with rats that preferred protein or fat. Moreover, the first meal of the feeding cycle was identified as being most distinctive in reflecting the individual dietary preferences of these rats. This contrasts with the subsequent meals, which for all rats showed a general trend of increasing proportions of protein and fat and a decreasing concentration of carbohydrate. Only the high-fat rats (approximately 30% of the group) were further distinguished by a particularly large fat-predominant meal in the middle-dark period, which was then followed by smaller fat-rich meals in the late-dark period. These fat-preferring rats exhibited significantly greater body weight gain compared with rats preferring carbohydrate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Pain Mechanisms and Centralized Pain in Temporomandibular Disorders

Until recently, most clinicians and scientists believed that the experience of pain is perceptually proportional to the amount of incoming peripheral nociceptive drive due to injury or inflammation in the area perceived to be painful. However, many cases of chronic pain have defied this logic, leaving clinicians perplexed as to how patients are experiencing pain with no obvious signs of injury in the periphery. Conversely, there are patients who have a peripheral injury and/or inflammation but little or no pain. What makes some individuals experience intense pain with minimal peripheral nociceptive stimulation and others experience minimal pain with serious injury? It is increasingly well accepted in the scientific community that pain can be generated and maintained or, through other mechanisms, suppressed by changes in the central nervous system, creating a complete mismatch between peripheral nociceptive drive and perceived pain. In fact, there is no known chronic pain condition where the observed extent of peripheral damage reproducibly engenders the same level of pain across individuals. Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are no exception. This review focuses on the idea that TMD patients range on a continuum-from those whose pain is generated peripherally to those whose pain is centralized (i.e., generated, exacerbated, and/or maintained by central nervous system mechanisms). This article uses other centralized chronic pain conditions as a guide, and it suggests that the mechanistic variability in TMD pain etiology has prevented us from adequately treating many individuals who are diagnosed with the condition. As the field moves forward, it will be imperative to understand each person's pain from its own mechanistic standpoint, which will enable clinicians to deliver personalized medicine to TMD patients and eventually provide relief in even the most recalcitrant cases.
Automatic bus routing and passenger geocoding with a geographic information system

This paper presents the design and applications of a decision support system developed for bus routing, route sequence mapping and passenger geocoding. The system, built on a geographic information system (GIS), is suitable for municipal transit planning and school bussing. The system consists of six operational modules: (1) the single routing module allows the user to select either street segments or bus stops from a street map to generate optimal routes; (2) the walking-distance maintenance module identifies street segments that are within a user-specified distance from a school; (3) the bus-stop optimization module identifies the optimal sites for locating bus stops based on travel demand; (4) the passenger plotting module reads a file of passenger information, geocodes their addresses, and then plots their locations on the street map; (5) the multiple routing module delineates multiple routes based on information of passengers, bus stop locations, and the bus fleet; and (6) the complex routing module generates multiple routes with multiple destinations for passengers that require special equipment. Additional modules can be programmed using the macro-language programming tool to serve user-specific purposes.
Theoretical Modeling of Biological Fluid Deformation during Dynamic Acoustic Tweezing

Acoustic tweezing rheometry is a novel non-contact method for real-time measurement of rheological properties of biological fluids, without artifacts such as contamination, wall slip effect and other phenomena associated with contact of a sample with device walls. This technique can operate in two regimes - quasi-static elastometry and dynamic measurement of sample viscoelasticity. In this presentation, we report the development of theoretical models for dynamic acoustic tweezing tests in which the sample fluid is modeled using the viscoelastic fluid or viscoelastic solid models (Jeffrey's or Kelvin-Voigt equations, respectively). By asymptotic analysis of the characteristic equation for sample shape oscillation, we obtained analytical relationships between rheological properties (viscosity, relaxation time, elastic modulus) and the frequency and damping rate of shape oscillations, which are directly measured in experiments. To test our models against experiments, we have conducted dynamic acoustic tweezing tests with human whole blood and blood plasma samples. By applying our models to the data of these experiments, we have obtained physically consistent results on blood rheology and showed that the viscosity of blood samples increases by a factor of 4-6 within six minutes of coagulation onset. The presented theoretical models are invaluable for non-contact assessment of biological fluid rheology and understanding the mechanical behavior of biological fluids subjected to the acoustic tweezing field.
Lymphoid malignancy-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: Search for the hidden source

Secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is an uncommon, but life-threatening syndrome of highly stimulated and ineffective immune dysregulation. It is not a disease entity by itself and the current diagnosis of secondary (acquired) HLH is based on constellation of nonspecific clinical and laboratory parameters indicative of overactive immune response. The presenting symptoms are often nonspecific and could potentially be missed, leading to a fatal outcome. Patients with malignancy-associated HLH have a relatively unfavorable overall survival compared with non-malignancy-associated HLH. In this retrospective study, nine adult patients with secondary HLH were identified. Of these four cases were associated with a malignancy and despite a high degree of suspicion, the underlying lymphoid malignancy was not initially evident. Three out of four patients with lymphoid malignancy-associated HLH died over a very short course of time following the diagnosis. The outcome was significantly different for the control group of patients with other underlying cause(s) for HLH. These cases emphasize the importance of a thorough search for a hidden malignant source in patients with secondary HLH for prompt diagnosis and institution of malignancy specific treatment.
1,2-Dithiolane-Derived Dynamic, Covalent Materials: Cooperative Self-Assembly and Reversible Cross-Linking

The use of dithiolane-containing polymers to construct responsive and dynamic networks is an attractive strategy in material design. Here, we provide a detailed mechanistic study on the self-assembly and gelation behavior of a class of ABA triblock copolymers containing a central poly(ethylene oxide) block and terminal polycarbonate blocks with pendant 1,2-dithiolane functionalities. In aqueous solution, these amphiphilic block copolymers self-assemble into bridged flower micelles at high concentrations. The addition of a thiol initiates the reversible ring-opening polymerizations of dithiolanes in the micellar cores to induce the cross-linking and gelation of the micellar network. The properties of the resulting hydrogels depend sensitively on the structures of 1,2-dithiolanes. While the methyl asparagusic acid-derived hydrogels are highly dynamic, adaptable, and self-healing, those derived from lipoic acid are rigid, resilient, and brittle. The thermodynamics and kinetics of ring-opening polymerization ...
Interspecific interactions between the Sudden Oak Death pathogen Phytophthora ramorum and two sympatric Phytophthora species in varying ecological conditions

Abstract Even when introduced invasive pathogens lack their natural predators or competitors, they must still interact with other organisms in their introduced range. Sudden Oak Death (SOD), caused by Phytophthora ramorum (Oomycota), is an introduced disease causing large-scale tree mortality. Two additional Phytophthora species, Phytophthora nemorosa and Phytophthora pseudosyringae, cause significantly lower oak mortality, yet they also commonly colonize leaves of Umbellularia californica, the major transmissive host of SOD in California. We combined field surveys and inoculation experiments to understand disease prevalence dynamics and competitive interactions among these pathogen species. Despite the broader geographic distribution of P. nemorosa with respect to that of P. ramorum, our results suggest that P. nemorosa exhibits a narrower ecological amplitude and, in any given region, occupies fewer sites than P. ramorum. Our results additionally suggest that, perhaps due to priority effects, P. nemorosa can persist at levels comparable to those of P. ramorum in ecologically suitable plots when climate favors P. ramorum dormancy. However, P. ramorum prevalence increases to levels higher than those of the competing species when abundant rainfall triggers its sporulation. Understanding the determinants and outcomes of competition between these species has important implications for understanding the epidemiology and possible control strategies for Sudden Oak Death.
Active Travel in a Local Urban Environment: Strategies Supporting Safe and Equitable Bicycling

Background Bicycling has been proposed as a potential intervention to reduce sedentary lifestyles, decrease air pollution, and promote active transportation. In partnership with a local bicycle advocacy organization, this policy-relevant study sought to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards bicycling, among both riders and non-riders; explore the dominant safety concerns for bicyclists; understand equity issues related to bicycling; and identify the necessary policies, programs, and environmental changes needed to support bicycling in urban areas. Methods A sequential mixed-methods design was used for this study, and data were combined during the design and analysis stages. Data were first collected from an online survey administered from mid-February 2014 through April 1, 2014. Descriptive analysis were conducted with STATA 13. Findings from the quantitative analysis guided the main themes of inquiry during semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of policymakers and advocates, and a focus group with neighborhood residents. A literature and document review supplemented the quantitative and qualitative data. Qualitative data analysis involved identifying key themes. Findings were disseminated to City leaders and the Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Committee (MBAC). Results The online survey was completed by 1,437 City residents (62% self-identified as regular riders). Primary reasons for riding were commuting to and/or from work or school (35.0%) and for recreation (27.9%). Although respondents were from over 20 different neighborhoods in the City, they were mainly White (87%), female (59%) and well-educated (88% had a Bachelor’s degree or higher), which reflected the City’s bicycling population. Nearly three-quarters of the respondents did not feel safe riding in the City. The leading safety concerns were motorists, lack of room to ride, uneven road surfaces, and the potential for crime. Only 37% of respondents said that the bicycling community was representative of the City population in terms of gender, race, and age. Key informants emphasized the safety risks, and acknowledged that the City suffers from inadequate infrastructure for cyclists. Respondents also highlighted significant inequities in neighborhoods where investments in infrastructure have been made, with perceptions that the areas dominated by tourists had the greatest investments. Conclusions This study highlights the importance of working with local leaders to collect data to support future policy and programmatic interventions to increase bicycling and equitable access. The findings of this study were broadly disseminated to the City Council, Department of Transportation, and the MBAC, which the lead investigator was invited to join upon completion of this research.
Palliative Care: Improving Nursing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors .

BACKGROUND:Oncology nurses affect patient care at every point along the cancer journey. This creates the perfect opportunity to educate patients and caregivers about palliative care early and often throughout treatment. However, healthcare providers frequently do not have the knowledge and confidenc
Copying of Mixed-Sequence RNA Templates inside Model Protocells.

The chemical replication of RNA inside fatty acid vesicles is a plausible step in the emergence of cellular life. On the primitive Earth, simple protocells with the ability to import nucleotides and short oligomers from their environment could potentially have replicated and retained larger genomic RNA oligonucleotides within a spatially defined compartment. We have previously shown that short 5′-phosphoroimidazolide-activated “helper” RNA oligomers enable the nonenzymatic copying of mixed-sequence templates in solution, using 5′-phosphoroimidazolide-activated mononucleotides. Here, we report that citrate-chelated Mg2+, a catalyst of nonenzymatic primer extension, enhances fatty acid membrane permeability to such short RNA oligomers up to the size of tetramers, without disrupting vesicle membranes. In addition, selective permeability of short, but not long, oligomers can be further enhanced by elevating the temperature. The ability to increase the permeability of fatty acid membranes to short oligonucleot...
Rating-based collaborative filtering: Algorithms and evaluation

Recommender systems help users find information by recommending content that a user might not know about, but will hopefully like. Rating-based collaborative filtering recommender systems do this by finding patterns that are consistent across the ratings of other users. These patterns can be used on their own, or in conjunction with other forms of social information access to identify and recommend content that a user might like. This chapter reviews the concepts, algorithms, and means of evaluation that are at the core of collaborative filtering research and practice. While there are many recommendation algorithms, the ones we cover serve as the basis for much of past and present algorithm development. After presenting these algorithms we present examples of two more recent directions in recommendation algorithms: learning-to-rank and ensemble recommendation algorithms. We finish by describing how collaborative filtering algorithms can be evaluated, and listing available resources and datasets to support further experimentation. The goal of this chapter is to provide the basis of knowledge needed for readers to explore more advanced topics in recommendation.
Using Taped-Problems and Rewards to Increase Addition-Fact Fluency in a First Grade General Education Classroom

We used a multiple baseline design across math facts to evaluate classwide use of a taped problem (TP) intervention on first graders' digits correct per minute in a general education classroom. During TP, students attempted to respond to each math fact before they heard the answer on an audiotape. As problems were repeated, response intervals were varied and individual and group feedback and rewards were provided contingent upon improved performance. Across all 3 sets of problems, digits correct per minute increased following the use of TP. We discuss the efficacy of TP as an instructional (as opposed to remedial) procedure, practical implications for teachers, and areas for future research.
Homocysteine: Role in Cardiovascular Disease

Elevated plasma levels of homocysteine are associated with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular ischemic events.
Some Kinetic Cell Models

This chapter summarizes several models which will be used in cell cycle analysis. These models are included in the chapter because of their use of radioactive-labeling experiments and chemotherapy. A common feature of these models is that they are based on a conservation principle of hydrodynamics.
Design and Construction of Controlled Back Reflectors for Bifacial Photovoltaic Modules

Bifacial photovoltaic (PV) modules enable higher power output in the installed systems by using additional light reflected on the back of the cells. Conventionally, the light reflected from the ground surface is used by the bifacial PV systems. The cells in a 48-cell module are less densely packed than 60-cell modules of the same size, which allows light to pass through the intercell area. Presented in this paper, back reflectors with three different reflective profiles have been designed to increase the energy production of these 48-cell modules by effectively utilizing the intercell light passing through the modules. The additional power generation through the introduction of an inexpensive back-side reflector could make 48-cell modules competitive with more densely packed 60-cell modules by reducing expensive cell material without increasing installation size.
Evaluation of a classroom movement integration training delivered in a low socioeconomic school district.

Abstract Movement integration (MI), which involves infusing physical activity (PA) into general education classrooms, is an evidence-based strategy within whole-of-school approaches for helping children meet the national PA guideline of at least 60 min per day. This study evaluated an MI training delivered in a low socioeconomic elementary school that had recently invested in three movement facilitative classrooms (a kinesthetic classroom and two activity labs). We investigated (a) the training’s fidelity in meeting recommended best practices for professional development and (b) school professionals’ perspectives of the training. Eight school professionals participated in the study, including five classroom teachers, two activity lab supervisors, and the principal. The researchers used a video of the training to rate the fidelity of the training to best practice recommendations. Interviews, field notes, and informal conversations with participants were qualitatively analyzed for themes. The training received a total fidelity score of 42%. Qualitative findings highlighted participants’ varied perspectives of the training’s purpose, challenges associated with the training and future recommendations for MI trainings. For MI trainings to be a valuable asset in increasing teachers’ value and effective implementation of MI, trainings need to be designed to be in line with best practice recommendations and teachers’ perceived needs.