cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Self-esteem and balance with impersonal attitude objects

Previous research demonstrates that cognitive-consistency predictions should take Ss’ self-esteem into account, for what is consistent for those with positive self-esteem may be inconsistent for those with negative self-esteem. In most studies the attitude object is the S himself, so that liking for others with whom one agrees is balancing for all Ss. For Ss with negative self-esteem, however, liking for others with whom one disagrees should be balancing when the object of disagreement is an impersonal one. In the present experiment Ss differing in self-esteem were presented with three levels of agreement-disagreement over the war in Vietnam, with three different hypothetical others. Contrary to the hypothesis, a Self-Esteem by Agreement interaction was not obtained, the only strong and consistent effect being a main effect for agreement. The results are discussed in terms of the limited range of the self-esteem variable and the questionable validity of the hypothesis.
Life, death, and ontology: More on aspiration and exaggeration

This article is a response to Fowers, Ainsley, and Lefevor, who offer a critique of a previously published article of ours that explored the problems of grounding aspiration and virtue in any ontology that does not allow for the possibility of an eternal soul. In this article, we argue that Fowers et al. have seriously misunderstood the nature and intent of our original argument and, therefore, fail to adequately respond to what we take to be a central concern that limits the viability of any approach to virtue and aspiration grounded in a naturalistic ontology for addressing the “Wherefore” question that lies at the heart of virtue and aspiration.
Supercooling Differences in the Eastern Subterranean Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Supercooling points were determined for untreated field-collected and untreated laboratorymaintained Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) workers and soldiers. Workers treated with antibiotics or had their hindgut-protozoa removed by exposing them to oxygen under pressure to determine the effects of absence of the hindgut fauna on supercooling. Supercooling points were compared between live and freshly killed workers to determine whether supercooling in this species might be simply due to the biochemical properties of body fluids. Laboratory-maintained workers were also subjected to desiccation, starvation, or atmospheric pressure to determine their effects on supercooling. Supercooling points were lowest for laboratory workers treated with antibiotics and those that fed on brown paper-toweling for 7 d. Untreated field-collected workers had significantly higher supercooling points than untreated laboratory-maintained workers (–6.06 ± 0.79°C vs –9.29 ± 2.38°C, P < 0.0001). Both untreated field-collected and laboratory soldiers had significantly lower supercooling points than their respective workers (–7.39 ± 2.01°C vs –6.06 ± 0.79°C, P < 0.0001; and –11.60 ± 2.53°C vs –9.29 ± 2.38°C, P < 0.0001, respectively). There was no significant association between termite body mass and supercooling points for both laboratory and field termites (P = 0.0523 and P = 0.6242) or water content of laboratory termites and supercooling points (P = 0.1425). Defaunated workers had significantly lower supercooling points (–10.34 ± 2.38°C) than normally faunated workers (–9.48 ± 1.85°C)(P = 0.0095) suggesting that the symbiotic fauna may have higher supercooling
Effect of Alfalfa Water Stress on Potato Leafhopper (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) Plant Preference and Oviposition Rate

Greenhouse dispersal experiments demonstrated that the potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris), strongly preferred well-watered alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., over the moderate and severe water-stressed treatments. Final densities in the well-watered treatment were twice as high as in the stressed treatments. Differences in population density were primarily due to higher emigration rates from water-stressed treatments. Females were less prone to disperse than males but were more responsive to the increase in stress. Two field experiments corroborated the results of the greenhouse study. Either inducing water stress via manipulating the irrigation schedule, or eliminating drought stress by irrigation, resulted in higher adult densities in the less stressed plots. In controlled environment studies, the oviposition rates of potato leafhoppers reared on well-watered alfalfa declined when leafhoppers were transferred to water-stressed alfalfa. These results are consistent with previous studies showing that water-stressed alfalfa is a relatively poor host for the development, survival, and reproduction of the potato leafhopper.
Vitamin D: clinical measurement and use.

Measurement of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) is accepted as the clinical indicator of vitamin D status 1 . Given the increasing recognition of widespread vitamin D inadequacy, clinicians are frequently obtaining 25(OH)D measurements and recommending over-thecounter or prescription vitamin D supplementation. However, the clinical measurement of 25(OH)D has been problematic and the options for correction of vitamin D inadequacy suffer from lack of standardization or limited dosing options. These issues, and current clinical approaches to correction of vitamin D inadequacy, will be reviewed. Historically, 25(OH)D measurement was performed in research facilities using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) or competitive protein binding methods. In the 1990s, a validated radioimmunoassay (RIA) was developed. Subsequently, the increased clinical recognition of vitamin D inadequacy as a widespread problem spurred development of automated systems, one of which was problematic leading to substantial variability of results on the same serum specimen 2 . The recent clinical application of liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) and HPLC technologies has improved the situation somewhat, for example, DEQAS (vitamin D External Quality Assessment Scheme) 3 data from 2006 demonstrate comparable values using RIA, HPLC and LC-MS methodologies (Figure 1a). However, even with these technologies, despite agreement of mean values, substantial variability in 25(OH)D results based upon the laboratory in which the measurement is performed continues (Figure 1b). This between laboratory variability appears like
The metabolism of acetylcholine in the intact central nervous system of an insect (periplaneta americana l.).

1. A very rapid metabolism of 3 H-labelled acetylcholine has been demonstrated in the intact abdominal nerve cord. It has been shown that the cholinesterase system is effective in drastically reducing the concentration of acetylcholine in the extracellular fluid of the terminal abdominal ganglion with bathing solutions of up to IO -2 M acetylcholine. 2. Evidence has been obtained which indicates that an appreciable hydrolysis of acetylcholine occurs at the periphery of the nerve cord. This effect is correlated with the electronmicroscopic demonstration of regions of eserine-sensitive cholinesterase located on glial membranes in the periphery of ganglia and connectives. It is suggested that some hydrolysis of extraneous acetylcholine may occur in the fibrous layer of the nerve sheath as a result of an accumulation of diffusible acetylcholinesterase in this region. 3. The results are discussed in relation to the possible involvement of the conventional cholinergic system in synaptic transmission in the central nervous system of this insect.
The T-cell CD2 determinant mediates inhibition of erythropoiesis by the lymphokine cascade.

We examined the role of the T-cell antigen CD2 in the regulation of erythropoiesis by the lymphokine cascade. T-cell interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptors (p55) were induced via triggering of the antigen receptor- associated CD3 epitope. Before CD3 triggering T cells were preincubated with a CD2-blocking (Leu-5b) or isotype control antibody. T-cell pellets were employed during incubation to facilitate interaction between T-cell LFA-3 and CD2. CD2 blockade caused a 66% to 79% inhibition of p55 expression after three to six days of culture with IL- 2. Next we assessed the effect of CD2 blockade on IL-2. Next we assessed the effect of CD2 blockade on IL-2-induced inhibition of BFU-E in autologous cocultures containing CD3-triggered T cells. IL-2 caused a dose-dependent inhibition (52% to 92%) of BFU-E in the presence but not in the absence of CD3-triggered T cells. T-cell CD2 blockade prior to CD3 triggering caused a 65% to 87% abrogation of IL-2-induced inhibition of BFU-E at 10 to 10(2) U/mL IL-2. Preincubation of CD3- triggered T cells with isotype control antibody had no effect on IL-2- induced erythroid inhibition. Day 3 supernatants from CD3-triggered T cells or CD2-blocked, CD3-triggered T cells established in the presence of IL-2 were next assessed for modulation of BFU-E. CD3-triggered T- cell supernatants caused a 77% +/- 9% inhibition of BFU-E. Blockade of CD2 caused a 95% abrogation of T-cell-mediated BFU-E inhibition. In addition, CD2 blockade reduced interferon-gamma (IF gamma) release (84 to 128 U/mL) from CD3-triggered T cells by 81% at day 3 of culture. In control experiments, the addition of IF gamma-neutralizing monoclonal antibody to CD3-triggered T-cell supernatant established in the presence of IL-2 caused 75% abrogation of IL-2 inhibition of BFU-E. We conclude that blockade of the CD2 T-cell determinant induces down modulation of (a) T-cell p55 IL-2 receptor expression, (b) IL-2-induced inhibition of BFU-E, and (c) IL-2-induced marrow T-cell IF gamma release. These data suggest that the T-cell CD2 determinant can exert a regulatory effect on the control of erythropoiesis by the lymphokine cascade.
Nutrient intakes and adequacy among an older population on the eastern shore of Maryland: the Salisbury Eye Evaluation.

Abstract Objective To describe the reported usual dietary intakes of the participants in the Salisbury Eye Evaluation (SEE) project and to estimate the prevalence of inadequate nutrient intakes using the probability approach. Subjects/setting A representative sample of elderly residents (aged 65 to 85 years) of Salisbury, Md. Design Cross-sectional survey, using a food frequency questionnaire to obtain nutrient intakes. We estimated energy and protein; percent of energy intake from carbohydrates, fat, and protein; as well as usual intakes of cholesterol, vitamin A, carotenoids, vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B-6, vitamin E, niacin, iron, calcium, zinc, and folate. Estimates of prevalence of inadequate nutrient intakes were calculated using the probability approach among the 2,655 participants with complete nutrient intake information. Statistical analyses performed The χ 2 test for independence and analysis of variance. A P Result On average, white participants of both genders reported higher mean energy and nutrient intakes than did black participants. Zinc had the highest estimated prevalences of inadequacy across all gender and race categories, followed by calcium, vitamin E, and vitamin B-6. Vitamin C, with estimated prevalences of inadequacy lower than 13%, and folate, with prevalences lower than 17%, had the lowest estimated prevalences of inadequacy across all gender, race, and age categories. Conclusions In this population, there are race differences in estimated prevalences of inadequate nutrient intake. According to the current nutrient requirements for adults aged 51 years and older, many elderly persons have inadequate dietary intakes of key nutrients. J Am Diet Assoc. 1999;99:564–571 .
Introducing computational models in the computer science curricula

This presentation describes our approach to introduce computational models early in the computing curricula. The approach involves the offering of a sequence of four courses aimed at students of computer science, information technology, mathematics, and the various science disciplines. The entry level course integrates computational modeling with programming principles and includes elementary numerical techniques for developing simple computational models. The content of the four courses is briefly discussed. A computational model is a computer implementation of the solution to a (scientific) problem for which a mathematical representation has been formulated. Developing a computational model consists of applying Computer Science concepts, principles and methods and includes formulating the mathematical representation of the given problem or system. The primary purpose of our new approach is to introduce students to computational modeling starting in their first semester. A sequence of four courses are proposed and the first course starts with basic principles of computational modeling at the level of fundamental concepts, it also introduces programming principles. Emphasis is on reasoning about problems, a general method for developing computational models, and computational thinking. To introduce the fundamentals of computational model as early as possible, the first course deals with elementary computational modeling (at the level of pre-calculus) and integrating with introduction to programming principles. We use the Matlab language and have established a pilot section that basically replaces a conventional CS1 course. The second course introduces slightly more advanced computational models using the C programming language with the GNU Scientific Library. The third course introduces discrete and continuous simulation. The fourth course explains and describes more complex algorithms and programming with C using methods of high performance computing (HPC).
The Crucial Role of DNA Methylation and MeCP2 in Neuronal Function.

A neuron is unique in its ability to dynamically modify its transcriptional output in response to synaptic activity while maintaining a core gene expression program that preserves cellular identity throughout a lifetime that is longer than almost every other cell type in the body. A contributing factor to the immense adaptability of a neuron is its unique epigenetic landscape that elicits locus-specific alterations in chromatin architecture, which in turn influences gene expression. One such epigenetic modification that is sensitive to changes in synaptic activity, as well as essential for maintaining cellular identity, is DNA methylation. The focus of this article is on the importance of DNA methylation in neuronal function, summarizing recent studies on critical players in the establishment of (the “writing”), the modification or erasure of (the “editing”), and the mediation of (the “reading”) DNA methylation in neurodevelopment and neuroplasticity. One “reader” of DNA methylation in particular, methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2), is highlighted, given its undisputed importance in neuronal function.
Laser Processing of Multilayered Thermal Spray Coatings: Optimal Processing Parameters

Laser processing offers an innovative approach for the fabrication and transformation of a wide range of materials. As a rapid, non-contact, and precision material removal technology, lasers are natural tools to process thermal spray coatings. Recently, a thermoelectric generator (TEG) was fabricated using thermal spray and laser processing. The TEG device represents a multilayer, multimaterial functional thermal spray structure, with laser processing serving an essential role in its fabrication. Several unique challenges are presented when processing such multilayer coatings, and the focus of this work is on the selection of laser processing parameters for optimal feature quality and device performance. A parametric study is carried out using three short-pulse lasers, where laser power, repetition rate and processing speed are varied to determine the laser parameters that result in high-quality features. The resulting laser patterns are characterized using optical and scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and electrical isolation tests between patterned regions. The underlying laser interaction and material removal mechanisms that affect the feature quality are discussed. Feature quality was found to improve both by using a multiscanning approach and an optional assist gas of air or nitrogen. Electrically isolated regions were also patterned in a cylindrical test specimen.
Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee: How Unusual Were They in the Catskill Mountains?

During the late summer and early autumn of 2011, the Catskill Mountains in south-central New York State experienced devastating flooding associated with former Hurricane Irene and former Tropical Storm Lee. Even in this particularly flood-prone region, the events of fall 2011 are perceived to be unique in the known history of the region and marked a turning point in the perceptions of residents about climate change. Here, precipitation and stream gage records are analyzed to determine just how unusual this season was. The historical precipitation gage record requires careful analysis due to the changing availability of stations. After a set of stations is developed that is appropriate for this analysis, events of lengths 1 day, 5 days, and 60 days are analyzed to identify regionally significant events (as opposed to events localized to one basin) since the early 20th century and to evaluate Irene and Lee in that historical context. Gage record results corroborate the perceptions of local residents that th...
Protection of sheep by vaccination against experimental challenge with Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo and L. interrogans serovar Pomona.

AIMS: To evaluate a multivalent leptospiral and clostridial vaccine for prevention of renal colonisation and urinary shedding in sheep, following experimental challenge with New Zealand strains of Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo type Hardjobovis and L. interrogans serovar Pomona.METHODS: Two separate but similarly designed studies were conducted. In both studies, Romney-cross lambs, aged 9–11 weeks, were randomly allocated to a vaccinated group and a control group. Vaccinated lambs each received two 1.5-mL S/C doses of a multivalent leptospiral and clostridial vaccine, 4 weeks apart, and animals in the control groups received the same dose of saline. Groups of 12 vaccinated and 12 control lambs were randomly selected in each study for challenge with serovars Hardjo or Pomona. Challenge was initiated 16 weeks following the second vaccination with three daily doses of live leptospires by intranasal and conjunctival routes. Following challenge, urine samples were collected weekly for 6 weeks, for da...
A network meta-analysis of interproximal oral hygiene methods in the reduction of clinical indices of inflammation.

Background A wide selection of Interdental Oral Hygiene (IOH) aids is available to consumers. Recommendations for selection are, however, limited by the lack of direct comparisons in available studies. We aimed to assess the comparative efficacy of IOH aids using Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis (BNMA). Methods Two independent reviewers performed a systematic literature review of randomized clinical trials assessing IOH aids, based on a focused question. Gingival inflammation (Gingival Index (GI), Bleeding-on-probing (BOP)) was the primary outcome and plaque and probing depth were secondary outcomes A random-effects arm-based BNMA model was run for each outcome; posterior medians and 95% credible-intervals (CIs) summarized marginal distributions of parameters. Results A two-phase selection process identified 22 trials assessing 10 IOH aids as brushing adjuncts. Interdental brushes (IB) yielded the largest reduction in GI (0.23 [95% CI: 0.09, 0.37]) as toothbrushing adjuncts, followed by water-jet (WJ) (0.19 [95% CI: 0.14, 0.24]). Rankings based on posterior probabilities revealed that IB and WJ had the highest probability of being "best" (64.7% and 27.4%, respectively) for GI reduction, whereas the probability for toothpick and floss being the "best" IOH aids was near zero. Notably, except for toothpicks, all IOH aids were better at reducing GI as compared with control. Conclusions BNMA enabled us to quantitatively evaluate IOH aids and provide a global ranking of their efficacy. Interdental brushes and water-jets ranked high for reducing gingival bleeding, whereas toothpicks and floss ranked last. The patient-perceived benefit of IOH aids is not clear because gingival inflammation measures are physical indicators of periodontal health.
How the 'New GM' Can Steal from Toyota

This essay explains how a 2006 court decision arising from the manufacture of the F-22 Raptor fighter jet paves the way for government-owned General Motors to steal intellectual property. In Zoltek v. U.S., the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held that a loophole in the Tucker Act (28 U.S.C. § 1498) prevented owners of patented processes from suing the federal government for certain types of unauthorized uses of their patents. The Zoltek court also held that patents are not secured as constitutional "private property" under the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment. At the time, many judges and lawyers thought that these statutory and constitutional loopholes for patent-owners were insignificant; at worst, they argued, this benefits only military contractors and the like. Fast forward four years and the federal government now owns the "new GM." It was inconceivable in 2006 that Uncle Sam soon would be in the business of making cars, not to mention in the businesses of banking and insurance, setting salaries of CEOs, purchasing mortgages, etc., etc. This dramatic turn of events means that court decisions that once seemed exceedingly narrow have acquired new breadth and scope. This essay thus explores how Zoltek justifies extensive infringement of U.S. patents by GM and other firms now working for the federal government. Although it is arguable that denying patent-owners their constitutional rights is insignificant in any situation, the events since 2006 at least suggest that many people spoke too soon when they claimed that Zoltek was of little import or concern.
Biogenic Silica Profiles in Holocene Cores from Lake Victoria: Implications for Lake Level History and Initiation of the Victoria Nile

Six piston cores from offshore Lake Victoria were analyzed for abundance of biogenic Si. Lake Victoria completely dried up during the last glacial maximum and began to refill around 12,400 radiocarbon years ago (12.4 ka). The abundance of biogenic Si rose immediately in the lacustrine sediments that accumulated over the paleosol, to the highest values observed in Holocene sediments, until about 7.4 ka when they dropped abruptly and remained low until 5.9 ka. They rose to intermediate values by 5.5 ka, after which time the profiles in the cores diverge, depending on their location in the lake. The simultaneous rise and fall in biogenic silica values observed across the entire lake basin between 12.4 and 5.5 ka cannot be attributed solely to changes in primary productivity. A model of the geochemical mass balance of Si in this system indicates that it could not support such widespread change for more than two to three decades. We interpret the biogenic Si profiles to be a record of changing supply rate of dissolved Si early in the new lake’s history, and to changes in lake level. The lake remained a closed basin until 7.4 ka, when oxygen isotopic data on aquatic cellulose indicate that it rose to its highest level, 18 m above present, and outflow was initiated. This resulted in an abrupt drop in biogenic Si accumulation at core sites throughout the lake because much of the Si could exit with the outflow. Downcutting at the Nile outlet resulted in a drop in lake level and focusing of diatom deposition in offshore basins. The lake finally stabilized around 5.5 ka. Subsequent shifts in biogenic Si profiles in the cores are attributed either to a spatially heterogeneous pattern of diatom productivity or to sediment focusing effects.
Controversies in the Management of the Cardiac Surgical Patient

The last decade has been characterized by important advances in cardiac surgery techniques with great impact on cardiac surgical nursing. Along with these advances many controversies in patient care management have evolved. Such controversy usually involves treatment options as in the case of choosing treatment for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Medical management is applied initially to many patients with cardiac symptoms. Effective treatment may be achieved with beta-blockers, calcium-channel blockers, and/or nitrates. Other treatment options include percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), placement of Stents, atherectomy, and laser therapy. Unfortunately, restenosis is a significant problem with rates ranging from 30 to 50 percent depending on the therapy. Another treatment option for patients with CAD is coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
Frequency analysis of electromyographically measured covert speech behavior.

Eleven subjects were asked to silently read slides of the letters “P” and “T,” and to view meaningless control slides similarly as they were presented visually. One-eighth-second electromyographic excerpts were sampled from the baseline and response periods. The data were then transformed into the frequency domain for inferential analyses. The mean power spectral frequencies for the response period were significantly lower than those for the base-line in the overall analysis. There were, however, no significant changes from baseline as a function of kind of stimulus (T, P, or Control) or muscle activated (lips or tongue). It was concluded that there was a generalized responding, not unique to the processing of the specific stimuli studied. Frequency analysis of EMG measures of covert behavior holds some promise of yielding unique information not available through traditional analysis procedures, but more sensitive methods than those used here would be required to demonstrate this.
Receptors of the thyroid: the thyrotropin receptor is only the first violinist of a symphony orchestra.

The primary role of the thyroid is to produce thyroid hormones; the primary regulator of the thyroid, both its function and growth, is the pituitary glycoprotein hormone, thyrotropin (TSH). Studies of the mechanism by which thyrotropin regulates thyroid cells have been a dominant part of thyroid research for the past several decades because autoantibodies to the TSH receptor have been implicated in the hyperfunction and goiter of autoimmune Graves’ disease. Understanding why the TSH receptor, but not receptors for other glycoprotein hormones, is an autoantigen is a major medical concern. Equally of concern has been the mechanism by which the TSH receptor achieves its The present report will try to show how TSH and its functional response and the relationship of TSH and its receptor to thyroid growth.
Pediatric Cervical Lymphadenopathy

Cervical lymphadenopathy affects as many as 90% of children aged 4 to 8 years. With so many children presenting to doctors' offices and emergency departments, a systematic approach to diagnosis and evaluation must be considered. In the following review, we aim to provide the pediatric clinician with a general framework for an appropriate history and physical examination, while giving guidance on initial diagnostic laboratory testing, imaging, and potential need for biopsy. The most common cause of cervical lymphadenopathy in the pediatric population is reactivity to known and unknown viral agents. The second most common cause includes bacterial infections ranging from aerobic to anaerobic to mycobacterial infections. Malignancies are the most concerning cause of cervical lymphadenopathy.The explosion in the use of ultrasonography as a nonradiating imaging modality in the pediatric population has changed the diagnostic algorithm for many clinicians. We aim to provide some clarity on the utility and shortcomings of the imaging modalities available, including ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging.
Collisions and Basic Plasma Physics

Key parameters of a plasma are discussed, including plasma oscillations and Debye length. The Coulomb cross section is introduced, and the importance of screening is discussed. The Coulomb logarithm is discussed from the perspective of defining the collective nature of plasma. The rates of momentum and energy exchange are found through the basic collision rates. The application of the slowing-down equation to the problem of runaway electrons is described. The Fokker-Planck equation is shown, with the collision operator obtained from the Rosenbluth potentials. The particle drift due to crossed electric and magnetic fields is derived. The magnetic moment is defined, and drifts induced by the gradients and curvature of a magnetic field are given, along with the polarization drift for a changing electric field. The magnetization current is found, and the overall diamagnetic current in a magnetized plasma is given by combining the drift and magnetization terms, showing that the particle effects lead to the basic pressure balance derived from fluid theory.
Critical Contact Angle to Induce Capillary Rise of Polymers in Nanopores Does Not Depend on Chain Length

We study the effect of physical confinement on the capillary infiltration of polymers into cylindrical nanopores using molecular dynamics simulations. In particular, we probe whether the critical contact angle (θc) above which capillary rise infiltration ceases to occur changes for long-chain polymers, possibly due to loss of conformation entropy induced by chain confinement. Surprisingly, θc does not strongly depend on the length of polymer chains and stays constant for large N. A free energy model is developed to show that θc depends strongly on the size of statistical segments rather than N, which we confirm by performing MD simulations of infiltration with semiflexible polymers. These results could provide guidelines in manufacturing polymer nanostructures and nanocomposites using capillary rise infiltration.
The Archives Center at the National Museum of American History: Connecting Archival Materials and Artifacts:

The Archives Center at the National Museum of American History holds more some 12,500 cubic feet of personal papers, business records, photographs, recordings and other archival materials. Some of ...
CD200-CD200R1 inhibitory signaling prevents spontaneous bacterial infection and promotes resolution of neuroinflammation and recovery after stroke

Ischemic stroke results in a robust inflammatory response within the central nervous system. As the immune-inhibitory CD200-CD200 receptor 1 (CD200R1) signaling axis is a known regulator of immune homeostasis, we hypothesized that it may play a role in post-stroke immune suppression after stroke. In this study, we investigated the role of CD200R1-mediated signaling in stroke using CD200 receptor 1-deficient mice. Mice were subjected to a 60-min middle cerebral artery occlusion and evaluated at days 3 and 7, representing the respective peak and early resolution stages of neuroinflammation in this model of ischemic stroke. Infarct size and behavioral deficits were assessed at both time points. Central and peripheral cellular immune responses were measured using flow cytometry. Bacterial colonization was determined in lung tissue homogenates both after acute stroke and in an LPS model of systemic inflammation. In wild-type (WT) animals, CD200R1 was expressed on infiltrating monocytes and lymphocytes after stroke but was absent on microglia. Early after ischemia (72 h), CD200R1-knockout (KO) mice had significantly poorer survival rates and an enhanced susceptibility to spontaneous bacterial colonization of the respiratory tract compared to wild-type (WT) controls, despite no difference in infarct or neurological deficits. While the CNS inflammation was resolved by day 7 post-stroke in WT mice, brain-resident microglia and monocyte activation persisted in CD200R1-KO mice, accompanied by a delayed, augmented lymphocyte response. At this time point, CD200R1-KO mice displayed greater weight loss, more severe neurological deficits, and impaired motor function compared to WT. Systemically, CD200R1-KO mice exhibited signs of persistent infection including lymphopenia, T cell activation and memory conversion, and narrowing of the TCR repertoire. These findings were confirmed in a second model of acute neuroinflammation induced by systemic endotoxin challenge. This study defines an essential role of CD200-CD200R1 signaling in stroke. Loss of CD200R1 led to high mortality, increased rates of post-stroke infection, and enhanced entry of peripheral leukocytes into the brain after ischemia, with no increase in infarct size. This suggests that the loss of CD200 receptor leads to enhanced peripheral inflammation that is triggered by brain injury.
QUARKS AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS

There has been much interest in QCD (Quantum Chromodynamics) among nuclear physicists as well as particle physicists. This is as it should be. QCD is (we believe!) the correct underlying theory for nuclear interactions. Eventually one must be able to use the right theory to explain things which are pure mystery in a phenomenological theory.
Synthesis of Novel Nucleic Acid Mimics via the Stereoselective Intermolecular Radical Coupling of 3'-Iodo Nucleosides and Formaldoximes(1).

A highly convergent free radical coupling of alkyl iodides and oximes, mediated by bis(trimethylstannyl) benzopinacolate (8), has been utilized to prepare a series of dimeric nucleosides as mimics of natural nucleic acids. The systematic optimization of the reaction conditions allowed for the single-step conversion of the appropriate iodides and oximes into the 2‘-deoxy dimers 9 in moderate to excellent yields. For example, the reaction of 3‘-deoxy-3‘-iodo-5‘-(triphenylmethyl)thymidine (6a) with 3‘-O-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyl)-5‘-O-(methyleneimino)thymidine (7a) in the presence of 8 in degassed benzene gave an 81% yield of 3‘-de(oxyphosphinico)-3‘-(methyleneimino)-5‘-O-(triphenylmethyl)thymidylyl-(3‘→5‘)-3‘-O-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyl)thymidine (9a). Similarly prepared were dimers containing both pyrimidine (thymine, 5-methylcytosine) and purine (adenine, guanine) bases. The reaction was highly stereoselective, giving only a single dimeric species having the ribo-configuration of the newly introduced C-3‘-b...
Bayesian Estimation of Acoustic Emission Arrival Times for Source Localization

The onset time of an Acoustic Emission (AE) signal is an important feature for source localization. Due to the large volume of data, manually identifying the onset times of AE signals is not possible when AE sensors are used for health monitoring of a structure. Numerous algorithms have been proposed to autonomously obtain the onset time of an AE signal, with differing levels of accuracy. While some methods generally seem to outperform others (even compared to traditional visual inspection of the time signals), this is not true for all signals, even within the same experiment. In this paper, we propose the use of an inverse Bayesian source localization model to develop an autonomous framework to select the most accurate onset time among several competitors. Without loss of generality, three algorithms of Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), Floating Threshold, and Reciprocal-based picker are used to illustrate the capabilities of the proposed method.
Membranous nephropathy: A ten-year journey of discoveries

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults. Over the last decade important research discoveries have revealed that most "idiopathic" cases are caused by autoantibodies to podocyte antigens including phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) and thrombospondin type 1 domain containing 7A (THSD7A). In this review, we will discuss the histopathology of primary MN, recent revelations regarding pathogenesis, and ancillary tests.
Litter size and cub age influence weight gain and development in American black bears (Ursus americanus)

We assessed the effects of cub age, litter size, and sex, on body mass (BM), absolute and relative growth rates (AGR, RGR), opening of ears and eyes, and deciduous teeth eruption from 129 cubs of American black bears (Ursus americanus) born at Virginia Tech's Black Bear Research Center. Specific ages, related to maternal food consumption, and litter size, best described BM, AGR, RGR, and ear and eye development. Overall, newborns weighed ∼0.44 kg at birth and increased ∼9-fold by ∼14 weeks. Twins were greater in BM than single cubs and triplets. Single and triplet cubs had higher AGR and RGR than twins after mothers resumed food consumption post-hibernation. Newborns displayed RGR > 3.5% that decreased until den emergence (RGR < 3.5% after emergence). RGR differed among litter sizes, particularly after den emergence. Ear and eye opening occurred concurrently at ∼44 days of age, while teeth erupted ∼10 days later. Single cubs experienced delayed development of these organs compared to other litter sizes. Postnatal developmental differences between black bears and other carnivores likely stem from strategies allowing black bears to minimize energy expenditure during the gestational period when hibernating.
A square-grid coloring problem

Suppose that $n \ge 2$, and we wish to plant $k$ different types of trees in the squares of an $n \times n$ square grid. We can have as many of each type as we want. The only rule is that every pair of types must occur in an adjacent pair of squares somewhere in the grid. The question is: given $n$, what is the largest that $k$ can be? Denote this number by $\Gamma(n)$, and call this the *complete coloring number* of the $n \times n$ grid. A little thought shows that $\Gamma(n) \le 2n-1$. The main question we are interested in is whether $\Gamma(n) = 2n-1$ for every $n \ge 2$.
Mechanisms of Myocardial Ischemia and Infarction

Summary The concepts of myocardial oxygen supply and demand remain the cornerstone by which we can explain the occurrence and guide our therapy for myocardial ischemia and infarction. Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease remains the major etiologic factor in the development of ischemia and infarction. Typically, this results from increased myocardial oxygen demands (increased heart rate, contractility, or wall tension) that cannot be compensated for by increased coronary blood flow due to an atherosclerotic obstruction. While the demand portion of this balance has received much attention in the past, recent findings suggest that the supply side also contributes significantly to the development of myocardial ischemia and infarction. Coronary artery vasospasm and thrombosis are two examples that are receiving considerable investigation. In addition, other new findings such as silent ischemia and reperfusion injury will require us to rethink our clinical management so as to afford our patients the best chance of survival and a productive life.
Varicella-Zoster Virus-associated Longitudinally Extensive Transverse Myelitis in an immunocompetent adult: An unusual and rare complication of Herpes Zoster. (2454)

Objective: NA Background: Herpes Zoster (HZ) occurs from reactivation of latent Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) in dorsal root ganglia. Commonly associated neurological complications include cranial neuropathies and encephalitis. Longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) as a complication of HZ has rarely been described in immunocompetent patients. We report a case of VZV-associated LETM occurring despite an appropriate course of acyclovir for HZ. Design/Methods: NA Results: This 58-year-old immunocompetent male presented with HZ infection in right T4 dermatome. He received a full course of acyclovir. Three weeks later, he developed right chest numbness attributed to post-herpetic neuralgia and he received analgesics. A few days later presented to the ED with bilateral lower extremity weakness and numbness from the dermatome T4 level and below and was admitted for workup of myelopathy. The initial MRI was normal. He again received acyclovir for VZV-associated myelitis despite negative imaging. His CSF showed lymphocytic pleocytosis and high VZV IgG levels. Bloodwork and CSF analysis ruled out other infectious and autoimmune etiologies. Five days later, MRI was again was unremarkable. He developed rapidly progressive paraplegia. Thirteen days after admission, a third MRI showed a longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis that was contrast-enhancing and centrally located in the spinal cord from C7 to T6. Decreasing the echo time on the STIR sequence helped make the diagnosis. Plasma exchange treatment was attempted but he had an anaphylactic reaction to this treatment. He was ultimately treated with high dose IV steroids and five days of IVIG with poor functional outcome thus far. Conclusions: VZV-associated LETM is an unusual complication of treated HZ. Although there is no standard treatment, acyclovir, IVIG and plasma exchange have been suggested as potential management options, ultimately with poor prognosis. Negative imaging long after symptom onset in our patient emphasizes the importance of a good neurological exam and repeat imaging to make the diagnosis. Disclosure: Dr. Crespo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Vuppala has nothing to disclose. Dr. Semerad has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bertoni has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with KYOWA.
Image denoising via patch based L1 -norm principal component analysis

Patch-based image denoising approaches have gained popularity recently. We propose an image denoising approach using subspaces that are fit using an L1-norm criterion. This new approach is competitive with existing approaches in terms of objective error metrics and visual fidelity, and has the added benefit that it can be implemented in parallel for large-scale applications.
Perbandingan Metode Sterilisasi Untuk Perbanyakan Rubus rosifolius Secara in Vitro

Abstrak Rubus rosifolius adalah salah satu jenis rasberi liar yang memiliki potensi cukup tinggi untuk dikembangkan sebagai tanaman buah. Selain itu, metode perbanyakan tanaman merupakan salah satu faktor yang berpengaruh dalam pembudidayaan. Lebih lanjut, informasi terkait upaya perbanyakan R. rosifolius secara in vitro masih sangat terbatas. Percobaan ini ditujukan untuk mengetahui metode sterilisasi yang tepat pada eksplan R. rosifolius. Sebanyak 17 metode sterilisasi telah diujicobakan di Laboratorium Kultur Jaringan BKT Kebun Raya Cibodas-LIPI. Bahan sterilisasi yang digunakan, yaitu detergen, tween 80, bakterisida, fungisida, clorox /pemutih (NaClO), alkohol 70%, larutan Plant Preservative Mixture (PPM), vitamin C/asam askorbat, dan povidone iodine /antiseptik. Hasil percobaan menunjukkan bahwa metode sembilan merupakan metode sterilisasi yang cukup optimum untuk sterilisasi eksplan R. rosifolius . Metode sembilan mampu menghambat munculnya mikroorganisme endofitik hingga 8 hari dan tidak menyebabkan warna eksplan menjadi cokelat/ browning . Tahapan sterilisasi pada metode sembilan meliputi pencucian dengan detergen, perendaman dengan bakterisida + fungisida selama + 30 menit, perendaman dengan clorox 10% + tween 80 selama + 15 menit, pencucian dengan larutan PPM selama + 15 menit. Abstract Rubus rosifol i us is one of the species from wild raspberries, which is has high potential to develop as a fruit crops. In the other hand, the technique of plant propagation became an important factor for cultivation. Moreover, the information related to the in vitro propagation of R. rosifolius is very limited. This experiment was aimed to determine the best method to sterilize an explants of R. rosifolius. About 17 methods of sterilization have been tried in the laboratorium of tissue culture at Cibodas Botanical Garden-Indonesian Institute of Sciences. The combination of detergent, tween 80, bactericide, fungicide, sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), alcohol 70%, plant preservative mixture (PPM), ascorbic acid, and povidone iodine were used during the experiment. The results show that the method of sterilization number nine could be inhibit the emergence of endophytic organisms for eight days and keep an explant in green with a little brownish compared by the others methods. The method of sterilization number nine was consist of several steps i.e. wash by detergent, soak in bactericide + fungicide for + 30 minutes, soak in sodium hypoclorite 10% + tween 80 for + 15 minutes, wash by PPM solution for + 15 minutes.
Mobile Sensing for Multipurpose Applications in Transportation.

Routine and consistent data collection is required to address contemporary transportation issues.The cost of data collection increases significantly when sophisticated machines are used to collect data. Due to this constraint, State Departments of Transportation struggles to collect consistent data for analyzing and resolving transportation problems in a timely manner. Recent advancements in the sensors integrated into smartphones have resulted in a more affordable method of data collection.The primary objective of this study is to develop and implement a smartphone application for data collection.The currently designed app consists of three major modules: a frontend graphical user interface (GUI), a sensor module, and a backend module. While the frontend user interface enables interaction with the app, the sensor modules collect relevant data such as video and accelerometer readings while the app is in use. The backend, on the other hand, is made up of firebase storage, which is used to store the gathered this http URL comparison to other developed apps for collecting pavement information, this current app is not overly reliant on the internet enabling the app to be used in areas of restricted internet access.The developed application was evaluated by collecting data on the i70W highway connecting Columbia, Missouri, and Kansas City, Missouri.The data was analyzed for a variety of purposes, including calculating the International Roughness Index (IRI), identifying pavement distresses, and understanding driver's behaviour and environment .The results of the application indicate that the data collected by the app is of high quality.
“After that, I was leery about giving anybody a break about anything”: Officer-perceived consequences of trauma exposure on interactions with the public

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the ways in which police officers connect their own direct and secondary trauma exposure to negative collateral effects on police-public interactions. Methods Data are drawn from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 48 police officers from across the U.S., representing a range of professional and personal backgrounds. Data were examined using a blended inductive/deductive coding strategy. Results Officers' narratives show that trauma exposure and related deteriorations in mental health are seen as an inevitable part of police work. Officers linked trauma exposure to negative cognitions about the perception of danger, the controllability of events, and the overarching nature of humanity. Finally, officers connected these negative cognitions directly to the frequency and quality of their contact with the public. Specifically, officers described (1) avoidant behaviors including physical and emotional avoidance of situations that could result in further psychological or bodily harm, and (2) approach behaviors including more defensive, hostile and enforcement-based approaches to the public. Conclusions Findings provide support for a cognitive-behavioral framework to explain the reported effects of police trauma exposure on interactions with the public. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
The linear escape limit set

If G is any Kleinian group, we show that the dimension of the limit set A is always equal to either the dimension of the bounded geodesics or the dimension of the geodesics that escape to infinity at linear speed.