cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recent progress in multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is recognized as a neoplasm of phenotypically mature plasma cells which produces a variety of clinical symptoms related both to tumour infiltration of the bone marrow and cytokine production. The latter results in bone disease and a complex interactive network between plasma cells, marrow stromal cells and other hematopoietic cells. This serves to sustain the myeloma proliferative pool and promote maturation and secretion of monoclonal immunoglobulin. Whereas the recognizable tumour cells in myeloma are the most mature B cells, early lymphoid cells are involved in the disease and probably represent the proliferative pre-plasma cell compartment. The definition of the myeloma 'stem cell' remains controversial, but our understanding of early pre-plasma cell differentiation in multiple myeloma has been aided by studies on normal non-neoplastic equivalents. Techniques like high resolution flow cytometry, flow cytometric DNA analysis and improvements in our ability to obtain karyotypic data in multiple myeloma will improve our understanding of myeloma cell biology, hopefully yielding new prognostic information. Finally, improvements in assessing prognosis will help identify patients whose survival with standard therapy is limited and who may require innovative or aggressive treatment protocols. These individuals must be separated from patients who either require no initial therapy or who are likely to have good outcomes with standard approaches.
Adult and Pediatric Peritonitis Rates in a Home Dialysis Program: Comparison of Continuous Ambulatory and Continuous Cycling Peritoneal Dialysis

We reviewed our 115-month experience with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD) in adult and pediatric patients to determine whether there is a difference in the incidence of peritonitis between patients performing CAPD or CCPD. Peritonitis rates were similar in patients performing CAPD or CCPD in both the adult and pediatric age groups. The overall CAPD peritonitis rate was significantly lower in adult patients when compared with pediatric patients. There was no difference in peritonitis rates for CCPD between adult and pediatric patients. When the data are divided into 3-year subgroups, the incidence of peritonitis is significantly lower in adult patients undergoing either CAPD or CCPD when compared with pediatric patients during the years 1986 to 1988. There is significant improvement over time in the incidence of peritonitis in both adult and pediatric patients performing CCPD; similarly, there is a trend toward improvement in patients performing CAPD. Staphylococcus species organisms remain the most common bacterial cause of peritonitis, except in pediatric patients under the age of 2 years or with nephrostomies, where gram-negative rod infections were more common. Peritonitis resulted in discontinuation of peritoneal dialysis in a greater number of adult patients. These results suggest that the number of catheter manipulations is not important in determining the incidence of peritonitis. Pediatric patients are more likely than adult patients to develop peritonitis with either CAPD or CCPD. Adult patients are more likely than pediatric patients to discontinue peritoneal dialysis secondary to peritonitis.
Theoretical and experimental evaluation of communication-induced checkpointing protocols in FE and FLazy-E families

Communication-induced checkpointing (CIC) protocols help in bounding rollback propagation by ensuring that each checkpoint taken is useful, while at the same time allowing each process to take checkpoints independently. In this paper, we focus on the evaluation of CIC protocols belonging to two families, namely, the F"E family and F"L"a"z"y"-"E family. We present both theoretical and experimental evaluation of the protocols belonging to these two families. The results of our experimental evaluation not only confirm the theoretical comparison but also reveals the fine differences between these protocols.
Design of Logic Gates and Flip-Flops in High-Performance FinFET Technology

With the emergence of nonplanar CMOS devices at the 22-nm node and beyond, it is highly likely that multigate device adoption will occur in a high-performance process technology, owing to the increased performance and area benefits. In this paper, for the first time, we evaluate symmetric (Symm-ΦG) and asymmetric (Asymm-ΦG) gate-workfunction FinFETs head to head in a high-performance process, using technology computer-aided design 3-D device simulations. We demonstrate that Asymm-ΦG shorted-gate (a-SG) n/p-FinFETs, which use both workfunctions corresponding to typical high-performance metal-gate n/p-FinFETs, are promising, as they can yield over two orders of magnitude lower leakage without excessive degradation in ON-state current, in comparison to Symm- ΦG shorted-gate (SG) FinFETs, placing them in a better position than back-gate biased independent-gate (IG) FinFETs for leakage reduction. Thereafter, we explore the design space of FinFET logic gates, latches, and flip-flops, for optimal tradeoffs in leakage versus delay and temperature, using mixed-mode 2-D device simulations. Elementary logic gates (such as INV, NAND2, NOR2, XOR2, and XNOR2) using Asymm-ΦG SG-mode FinFETs appear to be located optimally in the leakage-delay spectrum, in comparison to the most versatile configurations possible by mixing corresponding Symm-ΦG SG- and IG-mode FinFETs. Latches and flip-flops, however, require an astute combination of Symm-ΦG and Asymm-ΦG FinFETs to optimize leakage, delay, and setup time simultaneously.
Site-specific, insertional inactivation of incA in Chlamydia trachomatis using a group II intron.

Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate, intracellular bacterial pathogen that has until more recently remained recalcitrant to genetic manipulation. However, the field still remains hindered by the absence of tools to create selectable, targeted chromosomal mutations. Previous work with mobile group II introns demonstrated that they can be retargeted by altering DNA sequences within the intron’s substrate recognition region to create site-specific gene insertions. This platform (marketed as TargeTron™, Sigma) has been successfully employed in a variety of bacteria. We subsequently modified TargeTron™ for use in C. trachomatis and as proof of principle used our system to insertionally inactivate incA, a chromosomal gene encoding a protein required for homotypic fusion of chlamydial inclusions. C. trachomatis incA::GII(bla) mutants were selected with ampicillin and plaque purified clones were then isolated for genotypic and phenotypic analysis. PCR, Southern blotting, and DNA sequencing verified proper GII(bla) insertion, while continuous passaging in the absence of selection demonstrated that the insertion was stable. As seen with naturally occurring IncA− mutants, light and immunofluorescence microscopy confirmed the presence of non-fusogenic inclusions in cells infected with the incA::GII(bla) mutants at a multiplicity of infection greater than one. Lack of IncA production by mutant clones was further confirmed by Western blotting. Ultimately, the ease of retargeting the intron, ability to select for mutants, and intron stability in the absence of selection makes this method a powerful addition to the growing chlamydial molecular toolbox.
Designing a prosthetic memory to support software developers

about their activities and the resulting artifacts which helps them remain oriented, avoid omissions, and correctly use artifacts. When stored only in the developer's organic memory, this knowledge may degrade and cannot directly be shared with others. Its consistent externalization, however, is currently limited by production costs, indirect returns, and its limited saliency in contexts where it could be useful.In this work we propose a memory aid which strives to overcome these barriers, and reduce the resulting problems. Developers will provide short and raw subjective notes which will be associated with the code context but stored separately from it, allowing us to increase saliency via two novel presentations. The first, designed after human episodic memory, chronologically interleaves these subjective notes with an automatically-gathered record of the developer's objective activities. It virtually extends shorter-term memory, aiding with orientation and increasing the saliency of recent knowledge and reminders. The second, a contextual view, uses static dependencies and historical records to present notes which may be relevant to the developer's current context.
Feeding the Locavores, One Chicken at a Time: Regulating Backyard Chickens

As the local and regional food shed movement and the urban agriculture movement continue to grow, uses once considered only found on the rural farm are now finding their ways into urban and suburban communities. As a result, municipalities across the country are now facing the challenge of regulating the keeping of chickens in residential districts. From nuisance law to zoning regulations addressing the number of hens that may be kept on parcels, whether roosters are allowed, the size and location of coops and other issues, this article reviews the rapidly developing trends in this area of land use law.
Skewed use in the steady-state for electronic mail and other groupware

The skewed use of electronic mail and other groupware and its implications for both design and implementation is studied. Managerial and professional 'discretion', which is the organizational mechanism that gives rise to individual-level skewed use and, to some extent, system-level skewed use is discussed. Individual skewed use and system-level skewed use are examined. The stunted use phenomenon is identified, and its potential dangers and the measurement of use in general are addressed. The basic argument is that use levels need to be reported and that conclusions drawn from studies with very high or low rates must be interpreted with great caution. >
Distinct Requirements of Adenovirus E1b55K Protein for Degradation of Cellular Substrates

The E1b55K and E4orf6 proteins of adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) assemble into a complex together with cellular proteins including cullin 5, elongins B and C, and Rbx1. This complex possesses E3 ubiquitin ligase activity and targets cellular proteins for proteasome-mediated degradation. The ligase activity has been suggested to be responsible for all functions of E1b55K/E4orf6, including promoting efficient viral DNA replication, preventing a cellular DNA damage response, and stimulating late viral mRNA nuclear export and late protein synthesis. The known cellular substrates for degradation by E1b55K/E4orf6 are the Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1 DNA repair complex, the tumor suppressor p53, and DNA ligase IV. Here we show that the degradation of individual targets can occur independently of other substrates. Furthermore, we identify separation-of-function mutant forms of E1b55K that can distinguish substrates for binding and degradation. Our results identify distinct regions of E1b55K that are involved in substrate recognition but also imply that there are additional requirements beyond protein association. These mutant proteins will facilitate the determination of the relevance of specific substrates to the functions of E1b55K in promoting infection and inactivating host defenses.
Second-site suppressors of HIV-1 capsid mutations: restoration of intracellular activities without correction of intrinsic capsid stability defects

Disassembly of the viral capsid following penetration into the cytoplasm, or uncoating, is a poorly understood stage of retrovirus infection. Based on previous studies of HIV-1 CA mutants exhibiting altered capsid stability, we concluded that formation of a capsid of optimal intrinsic stability is crucial for HIV-1 infection. To further examine the connection between HIV-1 capsid stability and infectivity, we isolated second-site suppressors of HIV-1 mutants exhibiting unstable (P38A) or hyperstable (E45A) capsids. We identified the respective suppressor mutations, T216I and R132T, which restored virus replication in a human T cell line and markedly enhanced the fitness of the original mutants as revealed in single-cycle infection assays. Analysis of the corresponding purified N-terminal domain CA proteins by NMR spectroscopy demonstrated that the E45A and R132T mutations induced structural changes that are localized to the regions of the mutations, while the P38A mutation resulted in changes extending to neighboring regions in space. Unexpectedly, neither suppressor mutation corrected the intrinsic viral capsid stability defect associated with the respective original mutation. Nonetheless, the R132T mutation rescued the selective infectivity impairment exhibited by the E45A mutant in aphidicolin-arrested cells, and the double mutant regained sensitivity to the small molecule inhibitor PF74. The T216I mutation rescued the impaired ability of the P38A mutant virus to abrogate restriction by TRIMCyp and TRIM5α. The second-site suppressor mutations in CA that we have identified rescue virus infection without correcting the intrinsic capsid stability defects associated with the P38A and E45A mutations. The suppressors also restored wild type virus function in several cell-based assays. We propose that while proper HIV-1 uncoating in target cells is dependent on the intrinsic stability of the viral capsid, the effects of stability-altering mutations can be mitigated by additional mutations that affect interactions with host factors in target cells or the consequences of these interactions. The ability of mutations at other CA surfaces to compensate for effects at the NTD-NTD interface further indicates that uncoating in target cells is controlled by multiple intersubunit interfaces in the viral capsid.
Post-Irradiation Annealing and Intergranular Segregation and Desegregation

The effect of post-irradiation annealing (PIA: at 573-958 K for 0.1-1000 h) on the intergranular S and P segregation has been examined in ferritic alloys doped with Cu and/or P, all containing residual S. In a Cu-doped alloy showing no P segregation, the rate and amount of segregated S were promoted more by PIA than thermal annealing. Intergranular P enrichment was observed during an early PIA stage at lower temperatures in P-containing alloys. The intergranular P desegregation and S segregation concurrently occurred at higher PIA temperatures. By applying a modified McLean theory, it is shown that the S segregation in the post-irradiation annealed Cu-doped alloy is controlled by vacancy-enhanced diffusion while the P segregation in P-containing alloys subjected to lower temperature PIA proceeds via mobile P-interstitial complexes. Based on a Gaussian relaxation model, the P desegregation during prolonged PIA at higher temperatures is assisted by the formation and migration of vacancies.
High-Frequency Thermally Actuated Electromechanical Resonators With Piezoresistive Readout

This paper presents fabrication, characterization, and modeling of micro/nanoelectromechanical high-frequency resonators actuated using thermal forces with piezoresistive readout. Thermally actuated single-crystalline silicon resonators with frequencies (up to 61 MHz) have been successfully demonstrated. It is shown both theoretically and experimentally that, as opposed to the general perception, thermal actuation can be a viable actuation mechanism for high-frequency resonators, and using appropriate design guidelines, this actuation mechanism could even be more suitable for higher frequency rather than lower frequency applications. It has been shown through comprehensive thermoelectro-mechanical modeling that thermal-piezoresistive nanomechanical resonators with frequencies in the gigahertz range can exhibit motional conductance values as high as 1 mA/V while consuming static power as low as a few microwatts.
Generalized least squares estimation of multivariate nonlinear models with missing data

The method of estimated generalized least squares estimation of multiple response models is extended to the randomly missing date case. This estimation procedure is computationally simply when there are many missing data but the number of distinct patterns of missing data for the response vectors is small. The consistency and asymptotic normality of the proposed estimators are established.
Foundations of American Constitutionalism

David Richards here argues the position that understanding the intent of the Founders is essential to the legal interpretation of the United States Constitution. To this extent he makes common cause with conservative constitutional theorists, but he arrives at conclusions that differ radically from theirs. Indeed, his stated project here is to `reclaim' the Founders intent on behalf of the liberal humanist tradition they embodied. Richards examines the role of the Founders' understanding of history, philosophy, political theory, and political science in the evolution of their constitutional design. In his reconstruction, the Constitution emerges as a brilliant expression of European humanist and critical thought, shaped by such influences as the political ideas of Machiavelli, Harrington, Montesquieu, and Hume, the Lockean theory of legitimate government, and the common law model of interpretive practice. Armed with this new understanding of the Founders' intent, Richards is able to fully develop the methodology of constitutional interpretation sketched in his earlier book, TOLERATION AND THE CONSTITUTION (OUP 1986), and uses it effectively to defend a liberal reading of constitutional guarantees of individual rights.
Automatic control-code generation from simulation for flexible material handling systems

This paper describes the design of a tool for rapid analysis and implementation of flexible material handling systems. The work incorporates a commercial discrete-event and 3D animation simulation system and extends its functionality with respect to material handling systems. Logical clusters of commercial, modular conveyor components are defined and installed as additions to the simulator's component libraries. These logical groupings, plus the material-flow logic specified by the user in a given simulation analysis, are used to enable automatic generation of control code for the corresponding physical implementation of the simulated system. Key elements in accomplishing this connection are the definition of component logical groupings and a novel, reactive-agent based software organization of the real-time material-handling control code.
Family History, Subclinical Atherosclerosis, and Coronary Heart Disease Risk Barriers and Opportunities for the Use of Family History Information in Risk Prediction and Prevention

With completion of the human genome sequence, expectations are rising that a detailed catalogue will soon be available of all important common genetic susceptibility variants for human diseases, including coronary heart disease (CHD) and related atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD).1 In light of this seminal event in medical research, it is curious that the family history of CHD has not been accorded a more central role in risk prediction and disease prevention by clinicians and public health professionals. A positive family history of CHD is present in the majority of cases of premature-onset CHD.2 In cases of familial hypercholesterolemia and other rare forms of premature-onset CVD, CHD clearly segregates in a mendelian fashion. For most cases of premature-onset CHD, the mode of genetic transmission in families is less clear. Although the family history of CHD has been considered a putative risk factor for decades, it has not been incorporated along with other established risk factors such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and cigarette smoking in some widely applied multivariable risk algorithms,3 though other risk algorithms do incorporate family history information.4 See p 2150 This cautious approach to widespread application of family history information is not due to insufficient evidence. Risks for CHD death are greatest in monozygotic (identical) compared with dizygotic (nonidentical) twins, particularly when there is a premature (eg, <65 years) age of onset in the initially affected twin.5 In multiple prospective studies involving hundreds of thousands of men and women, a parental history of premature CHD is a significant risk factor for CVD even after multivariable adjustment. Relative risk estimates generally range from 1.2 to 2.0, as noted in the Physician’s Health Study and Women’s Health Study,6 although the estimated magnitude of risk associated with early-onset parental disease is substantially higher in some studies.7 …
Definitions and Detection of Deadlock, Livelock, and Starvation in Concurrent Programs

Deadlock, livelock, starvation, and other terms have been used to describe undesirable situations involving blocking or not making progress for processes in a concurrent program However, definitions of these terms are inconsistent and often informal This paper provides formal definitions of deadlock, livelock, and starvation in terms of the reachability graph of a concurrent program Also, this paper shows algorithms for the detection of deadlock, livelock, and starvation.
Recent Trends in Intergovernmental Relations: The Resurgence of Local Actors in Education Policy

In this essay, the authors explore trends in intergovernmental relations (IGR) by analyzing recent education policies—No Child Left Behind Act, Common Core State Standards, and local empowerment policies. Identifying a resurgent role for local actors in education policy, the authors argue that recent federal efforts to exert more control have in many ways strengthened the influence of local actors by providing avenues for school districts and other local “non-system” players to challenge traditional governance arrangements. In a similar vein, because the federal government’s ability to achieve its goals rests primarily on actions of local players, federal policies have in the course of implementation strengthened the hand of many local actors. Based on their analyses, the authors stress that IGR is not a zero-sum game. As one level gains power in certain domains, other levels may simultaneously acquire power in the same or different domains. The authors further argue that relations among federal, state, a...
A performance-correctness explicitly-decoupled architecture

Optimizing the common case has been an adage in decades of processor design practices. However, as the system complexity and optimization techniquespsila sophistication have increased substantially, maintaining correctness under all situations, however unlikely, is contributing to the necessity of extra conservatism in all layers of the system design. The mounting process, voltage, and temperature variation concerns further add to the conservatism in setting operating parameters. Excessive conservatism in turn hurt performance and efficiency in the common case. However, much of the systempsilas complexity comes from advanced performance features and may not compromise the whole systempsilas functionality and correctness even if some components are imperfect and introduce occasional errors. We propose to separate performance goals from the correctness goal using an explicitly-decoupled architecture. In this paper, we discuss one such incarnation where an independent core serves as an optimistic performance enhancement engine that helps accelerate the correctness-guaranteeing core by passing high-quality predictions and performing accurate prefetching. The lack of concern for correctness in the optimistic core allows us to optimize its execution in a more effective fashion than possible in optimizing a monolithic core with correctness requirements. We show that such a decoupled design allows significant optimization benefits and is much less sensitive to conservatism applied in the correctness domain.
Pervaporation characteristics of polyetherimide/γ-alumina composite membrane for a quaternary equilibrium mixture of acetic acid-ethanol-ethyl acetate-water

Polyetherimide/γ-alumina composite membrane has been prepared by dipping method for further reactor application. Separation factors and permeances for a quaternary acetic acid-ethanol-ethyl acetate-water equilibrium feed mixture have been measured on the composite membrane in the range of temperature from 303 K up to 343 K and space time from 27 sec to 27,000 sec at a permeate-side pressure of 2.67×10-3 bar. Fluxes for the all four components increase as temperature inicreases due to the increase of free volume within polymer chains. Apparent activation energies have been measured for the four components. The flux change for acetic acid is the most sensitive on the temperature change. The composite membrane shows a good dehydration capability with reasonable separation characteristics, as well as thermal and mechanical stability in desired conditions.
Serum effects on cell‐mediated destruction of rous sarcomas

A microcytotoxicity test was used to study various effects of serum from tumorbearing and tumor-free Japanese quails on cell-mediated destruction of allogeneic sarcomas induced by the Schmidt-Ruppin strain of the Rous sarcoma virus (SR-RSV). Spleen cells from quails whose sarcomas had regressed (regressors) were used as the source of immune cells, since they had been previously shown to be cytotoxic to cultivated Rous sarcoma cells. Fourteen of 24 progressor sera (58.3%) gave more than 25% blocking of cell-mediated cytotoxicity to Rous sarcoma cells when tested at dilution 1:6, and seven of these sera (29.2%) had more than 50% blocking activity. The mean blocking index of all progressor sera was 35.5% at dilution 1:6, and the mean titer of those seven sera which gave more than 50% blocking when diluted 1:6 was 25.6. Six of 18 regressor sera (33.3%) had more than 25% blocking activity at dilution 1:6 and three of them (16.7%) gave more than 50% blocking at that dilution. The mean blocking activity of the 18 regressor sera at dilution 1:6 was 16.9%, and the mean titer of the three sera which gave more than 50% blocking at that dilution was 22.8. Absorption of progressor sera with cultivated Rous sarcoma cells, but not with normal quail fibroblasts, decreased their blocking activity. Some sera from normal quails decreased the cytotoxic effect of immune spleen cells. The blocking effect of these sera was less, however, than that seen with progressor and regressor sera, and it was not removed by absorption with tumor cells. None of nine sera from bursectomized regressors was blocking at dilution 1:6, while a blocking effect was detected with three out of four sera from bursectomized progressors. The blocking effect of sera from bursectomized progressors could not be removed by absorption with Rous sarcoma cells. Its titer was lower than that of concomitantly tested progressors with intact bursa. Furthermore, sera from bursectomized progressors did not block when tested by pre-incubation with the target cells. Four of 10 regressor sera tested could abrogate the blocking activity of progressor sera and, hence, were characterized as unblocking. On the other hand, none of five sera from bursectomized regressors had any unblocking effect. Some diluted sera from regressors, from bursectomized regressors and from progressors conferred a cytotoxic activity on normal spleen cells (“arming” effect). In addition, some sera, particularly from regressors (normal or bursectomized), potentiated the cytotoxic effect of regressor spleen cells.
Detection of the 6 November 1997 ground level event by Milagrito

Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs) with energies exceeding 10 GeV associated with the 6 November 1997 solar flare/CME (coronal mass ejection) have been detected with Milagrito, a prototype of the Milagro Gamma Ray Observatory. While SEP acceleration beyond 1 GeV is well established, few data exist for protons or ions beyond 10 GeV. The Milagro observatory, a ground based water Cherenkov detector designed for observing very high energy gamma ray sources, can also be used to study the Sun. Milagrito, which operated for approximately one year in 1997/98, was sensitive to solar proton and neutron fluxes above ∼4 GeV. Milagrito operated in a scaler mode which was primarily sensitive to muons, low energy photons, and electrons, and the detector operated in a mode sensitive to showers and high zenith angle muons. In its scaler mode, Milagrito registered a rate increase coincident with the 6 November 1997 ground level event observed by Climax and other neutron monitors. An analysis, based on preliminary effective a...
Stepping from service-learning to SERVICE-LEARNING pedagogy

Service-learning can mean different things and look quite different in varying statistics curricula that may include undergraduates, graduates, majors and non-majors across a wide array of higher institutions. The terms community engagement, volunteerism, community-based projects and service-learning are tossed around on various institutions‟ websites. The purpose of this article is two-fold. First is to provide an historical review of the evolution of service-learning activities to try to unify and define the terminology as one might use this pedagogy for statistics instruction. Second is to present some examples of how a first and second course in business statistics can step up from service-learning and move up the continuum towards reaping the reciprocal benefits of SERVICE-LEARNING (SL). In this article, service learning (note the omission of a hyphen) is a valued classroom service activity that separates the activity from the learning goals of the class, while service-learning (note the presence of a hyphen) is a teaching methodology in which the service and learning goals are carefully given equal weight in the development of the project so that classroom goals and service outcomes enhance each other providing a reciprocal experience for all participants (Sigmon 1994). When this careful design is a “method of teaching through which students apply newly acquired academic skills and knowledge to address real-life needs in their own communities” (ASLER 1994), SL unifies what students are currently learning in the classroom with the service they are simultaneously providing in the community. Careful design opens the door to provide opportunities of SL in an introductory, non-majors statistics class.
Evaluation of an Inexpensive Small-Diameter Temperature Logger for Documenting Ground Water-River Interactions

Increasing numbers of studies are recording detailed temperature data for characterization of ground water–stream exchange. We examined laboratory and field operation of a small-diameter, stand-alone and inexpensive temperature logger capable of investigating stream–ground water exchange was examined. The Thermochron iButton is a 17.35-mm-diameter by 6-mm-thick instrument that costs <$10 when ordered in quantity. Testing of the loggers in a controlled temperature bath revealed a precision of 60.4� C and an accuracy of 60.5� C for a group of 201. More than 500 loggers have been installed in channels and in subchannel and floodplain ground water environments in two gravel-bedded rivers in the western United States. Loggers were placed as single devices and in vertical arrays in monitoring wells with diameters of 10.16, 5.08, 2.54, and 1.9 cm. We determined that the loggers have four principal advantages over more commonly used wired and currently available stand-alone logging devices: (1) the wireless nature does not require the instrument location to be associated with a control-recording system; (2) the small size allows for installation in small hand-driven or direct-push monitoring wells and thus intimate contact of the instruments with the hydrologic environment; (3) multiple loggers are easily suspended in a single fully perforated monitoring well, allowing for the collection of high-resolution temperature profile data; and (4) the low cost of the loggers allows for the deployment of large numbers, thus improving spatial resolution in shallow ground water floodplain scale studies.
Curbing rampant cross-contamination and misidentification of cell lines.

A son's challenge started an emeritus professor of biology on a three-year odyssey to get biological researchers to correct a decades-long problem with cross-contaminated and misidentified cell lin...
Peripheral Nerve Blocks: Optimal Method to Achieve a Painless Total Hip Arthroplasty—Affirms

Effective pain management improves patient satisfaction, decreases hospital stays, and facilitates discharges to home instead of to assisted care facilities after total hip arthroplasty. There have been substantial recent gains in our knowledge on how to deal more effectively with pain after surgery. Emerging multimodal pain management protocols have been successful in diminishing pain and improving early outcomes, particularly when coupled with the use of peripheral nerve blocks. We outline the basic principles of contemporary multimodal anesthesia and particularly emphasize the added value of peripheral nerve blocks.
Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. 5th ed.

Linda Cocchiarella and Gunnar B.J. Andersson, editors. Chicago: American Medical Association; 2001. 350 pages. $139.00. The American Medical Association has assumed the nearly impossible mission of attempting to set standards for the quantification of loss of human body parts and their functions. The fifth edition of Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment is the latest attempt to refine that effort. Almost every body part is invaluable to the individual. Assigning a value to any body part is arbitrary, but assigning a value to a body part in relation to the whole body makes the process more reasonable. Even then, the assessment can be controversial. Quantification of loss is a necessary function in our society, in which individuals are compensated with cash payments for permanent impairments and disabilities. …
Staphylococcal Superantigens Spark Host-Mediated Danger Signals

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) of Staphylococcus aureus, and related superantigenic toxins produced by myriad microbes, are potent stimulators of the immune system causing a variety of human diseases from transient food poisoning to lethal toxic shock. These protein toxins bind directly to specific Vβ regions of T-cell receptors (TCR) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II on antigen-presenting cells, resulting in hyperactivation of T lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages. Activated host cells produce excessive amounts of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, especially tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1 (IL-1), IL-2, interferon γ (IFNγ), and macrophage chemoattractant protein 1 causing clinical symptoms of fever, hypotension, and shock. Because of superantigen-induced T cells skewed toward TH1 helper cells, and the induction of proinflammatory cytokines, superantigens can exacerbate autoimmune diseases. Upon TCR/MHC ligation, pathways induced by superantigens include the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades and cytokine receptor signaling, resulting in activation of NFκB and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin pathways. Various mouse models exist to study SEB-induced shock including those with potentiating agents, transgenic mice and an "SEB-only" model. However, therapeutics to treat toxic shock remain elusive as host response genes central to pathogenesis of superantigens have only been identified recently. Gene profiling of a murine model for SEB-induced shock reveals novel molecules upregulated in multiple organs not previously associated with SEB-induced responses. The pivotal genes include intracellular DNA/RNA sensors, apoptosis/DNA damage-related molecules, immunoproteasome components, as well as antiviral and IFN-stimulated genes. The host-wide induction of these, and other, antimicrobial defense genes provide evidence that SEB elicits danger signals resulting in multi-organ damage and toxic shock. Ultimately, these discoveries might lead to novel therapeutics for various superantigen-based diseases.
Novel a-Si:H Thin Film High Voltage Transistor

A new novel thin film high voltage transistor in a-Si:H is described in this paper. This new structure extends the operation of a-Si:H TFT to 500 volts or more. The fabrication process of this new high voltage transistor is simple and compatible with that of the conventional low voltage TFT. The high voltage TFT can be switched by low voltage signals and is demonstrated to be capable of switching several hundreds of volts.
Arthritis in Mice Due to Infection with Mycoplasma pulmonis. II. Serological and Histological Features

Histological and serological data were obtained from a group of 160 mice given intravenous inoculations of 3.5 X 10(7) colony-forming units of Mycoplasma pulmonis and studied for 46 weeks. The basic pathology was that of an initial acute inflammatory response within the joint and periarticular tissues, slowly changing to a chronic inflammatory response seen predominantly in subsynovial areas with marked synovial proliferation. Occasional lymphoid follicles and plasma cells were seen in the subsynovial spaces. Titers of antibody to M. pulmonis were determined by both metabolic inhibition and indirect hemagglutination techniques. By the metabolic inhibition method, titers were highest between two and 22 weeks, and by indirect hemagglutination between four and 42 weeks. Antibodies to synovial antigens were present between nine and 26 weeks as determined by indirect hemagglunination. Serologic cross-reactions were found between M. pulmonis and normal mouse synovium in sera from infected mice and, by indirect hemagglutination, metabolic inhibition, and immunodiffusion techniques, in sera of rabbits or mice immunized with either M. pulmonis or mouse synovium.
Dictyostelium citrinum, D. medusoides and D. granulophorum: three new members of the Dictyosteliaceae from forest soils of Tikal, Guatemala.

Thirty-four different taxa of dictyostelid and one acrasid cellular slime mold were recovered from forest soils of Tikal, Guatemala. Ten of these taxa are new to science while others are new record...
Replacing synthetic N with clovers or alfalfa in bermudagrass pastures. 3. Performance of growing steers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of steers (n = 590, 263 ± 30.6 kg) grazing alfalfa (ALF, Medicago sativa L.) or a combination of white (Trifolium repens L.) and red (Trifolium pretense L.) clovers (CLVR) inter-seeded into bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers.) pastures compared with fertilisation with 0 (0N), 56 (56N), or 112 (112N) kg nitrogen (N)/ha (n = 4, 0.8-ha pastures per treatment) in north-east Arkansas (USA) over 4 years. The carryover N benefit of CLVR or ALF was compared with N fertilisation rates during the fifth year on performance of growing steers (n = 120; 235 ± 22.6 kg). Average daily gain increased with N application rate and legume pastures were similar to 56N; but liveweight gain per steer grazing legume pastures tended to be greater than 112N. Steer grazing days per hectare and liveweight gain per hectare were greater for ALF and CLVR than bermudagrass monocultures regardless of N fertilisation rate. Steer average daily gain, grazing days per hectare and liveweight gain per hectare for carryover N from legumes did not differ from 56N. These results indicate that replacing synthetic N by inter-seeding legumes into bermudagrass swards has the potential to improve individual animal performance and production per unit area and carryover benefits of legume N may be equivalent to 56 kg N/ha.
An Investigation on the Optical Fiber Pressure Sensors by Fiber Loop Ringdown

An optical fiber pressure sensors by use of a fiber loop ringdown system is presented and characterized in terms of the ringdown baseline stability,fiber transmission loss,and fiber refractive index.The overall sensor performance is demonstrated by use of sensing forces applied to the sensor head.The current device can sense pressures in the range of 0 to 9.8 x106Pa,converted approximately from the applied forces.The sensor's linear response,repeatability,detection sensitivity,and measuring dynamic range are explored.
Laser Ignition System of Solid Rocket Motor

The mechanism of solid rocket motor laser ignition,composition of practical laser ignition system and its key technologies are summaried.The approach to some of main partial technique is discussed in detail.
Learning the Colonial Past in a Colonial Present: Students and Teachers Confront the Spanish Conquest in Post-Conflict Guatemala

In Guatemala, three centuries after Spanish conquest and in the wake of more than three decades of internal conflict, the framers of the 1996 Accord for a Firm and Lasting Peace placed educational reform at the center of efforts to make peace with this contentious past. This article, based on a multisite qualitative study, describes how Guatemalan teachers, working within an ostensibly standardized national curriculum aimed at creating a common historical narrative, differed in their presentation of Spanish colonialism. In the social studies classrooms of two different settings, a private school serving affluent Ladino students and a public school serving low-income indigenous students, young people constructed usable pasts amid distinct approaches to this era. In the first, a static, fixed version of colonial history distanced these young people from their indigenous cocitizens; students described the colonial era as part of a completed and distant past. In the second classroom, the teacher framed coloni...
A spectrographic investigation of the structural status of Ueberlaenge in German Vowels.

An investigation was carried out concerning an alleged contrast in spoken German, between long and overlong vowels. Minimally biasing frames were created and exposed to a number of native speakers,...
SPATIAL ECONOMETRICS IN NON- SPATIAL SETTINGS

In this paper, we use data from Major League Baseball between 2000 and 2005 to illustrate how spatial econometric techniques can be used to directly model the interdependence of players. Specifically, we empirically examine the role of task specific human capital on earnings, by modeling player contracts as being determined by their performance, and the performance of other players with similar task specific human capital profiles. Our approach also provides an example to other researchers of a methodological approach to using spatial econometrics in settings where space is defined in ways other than spatial geography.
Culpability and Pain Management/Control in Peripheral Vascular Disease Using the Ethics of Principles and Care

Culpability and pain management/control are two issues identified by nurses who care for peripheral vascular patients as occurring frequently in their practice. This article provides a differential analysis of these ethical issues using two alternative ethical frameworks: the ethic of principles and the ethic of care, as a schema for the appraisal. In analyzing the issue of culpability, application of the two ethical frameworks resulted in the same conclusion. The conclusions for pain management/control were different. The ethic of principles overwhelmingly supported the decision of the nurse to relieve the patients’ pain. Under certain conditions, the ethic of care can justify a nurse not relieving the patient’s pain and suffering.
Regeneración urbana integrada: proyectos de acupuntura en Medellín

Resumen En la ultima decada, Medellin ha pasado de ser una ciudad de alta peligrosidad y con gran cantidad de problemas asociados a la vulnerabilidad social de sus barrios, a constituirse en un ejemplo de innovacion en la gestion urbana, lo cual se traduce en la variedad de politicas y programas llevados a cabo con el objeto de regenerar sus barrios mas pobres y de mejorar su accesibilidad, ya que la mayoria de estos barrios se situan en la periferia de la ciudad. Las actuaciones de acupuntura urbana, concebidas bajo la figura de planeamiento denominada Proyecto Urbano Integral (PUI), han sido capaces de reforzar elementos de resiliencia propios de los barrios, entre los cuales se cuenta el capital social. En este articulo se presenta la acupuntura urbana como un concepto referido a practicas que son propias de la regeneracion urbana integrada, considerando sus dos ejes: la intervencion urbanistica en la ciudad y la integracion de elementos que permiten reforzar la cohesion social mejorando los procesos de identicacion del ciudadano con su ciudad.AbstractIn the last decade Medellin has transformed itself from a dangerous city, suffering many problems associated with the social vulnerability of its neighborhoods, to a positive example urban innovation. This is a result of a wide range of programs specially created to regenerate the most vulnerable peripheral areas of the city, improving their accessibility. The urban acupuncture actions that were created under a new comprehensive urban planning tool (PUI), have been able to reinforce the elements of resilience and social capital already possessed by the neighborhoods. The article presents urban acupuncture as a concept congruent with practices carried out by an integral urban regeneration processes which focuses on two major subjects: the urban intervention in the city, and the integration of elements that make possible the reinforcement of social cohesion, while improving the citizen´s identity within the city.
Interactions between Polyelectrolyte Gel Surfaces

Surfaces formed by charged polymeric species are highly abundant in both synthetic and biological systems, for which maintaining an optimum contact distance and a pressure balance is paramount. Here we investigate interactions between surfaces of two same-charged and highly swollen polyelectrolyte gels, using extensive molecular dynamic simulations and minimal analytical methods. The external-pressure responses of the gels and the polymer-free ionic solvent layer separating two surfaces are considered. Simulations confirmed that the surfaces are held apart by osmotic pressure resulting from excess charges diffusing out of the network. At a threshold pressure, the counterion-induced osmotic pressure in the gel interiors becomes nearly equal to that in solvent gap, and the gels begin to deform. At the threshold pressure, the distance between surfaces is equivalent to the electrostatic screening length imposed by excess charges. Both the solvent layer and pressure dependence are well described by an analytic...
Ankle-brachial index and incident diabetes mellitus: the atherosclerosis risk in communities (ARIC) study

Background Individuals with peripheral artery disease (PAD) often have reduced physical activity, which may increase the future risk of diabetes mellitus. Although diabetes is a risk factor for PAD, whether low ankle-brachial index (ABI) predates diabetes has not been studied.