cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evolution and Application of CFD Techniques for Scramjet Engine Analysis

Capabilities developed over the past several years in the area of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) have provided today's aerospace engineer with an extremely powerful tool for analysis of complex flowfields of interest. A recent resurgence in the interest in hypersonics has resulted in an increased effort in the development of supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) engines as an efficient means of propulsion for aircraft and missiles flying above Mach 5. Use of CFD techniques to design and analyze scramjet engine concepts is proving an invaluable asset, with applicability ranging from the use of simple inviscid codes for parametric studies of various inlet geometries to the use of unsteady Navier-Stokes codes with chemistry models to investigate the details of complex phenomena in a scramjet combustor. This article discusses the evolution of computational fluid dynamics with reference to milestones in scramjet research in the United States, followed by an overview of some applications of available computational capabilities to the design and analysis of scramjet engines being developed at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and at the NASA Langley Research Center. Finally, future directions in the application of CFD to the development of scramjet engines are discussed.
Friends or Strangers? Firm-Specific Uncertainty, Market Uncertainty, and Network Partner Selection

In this study, we address the topic of interorganizational network change by exploring factors that affect the choice of alliance and interlock partners. While many studies have been devoted to investigating various factors driving network partner choice, there is also an interesting and unexplored tension in this body of work. On the one hand, much work emphasizes change in social structure--showing that firms expand networks by forming new relationships with new partners. At the same time, other scholars emphasize stability of social structure--showing that firms tend to choose past exchange partners. We seek to reconcile this tension by proposing that firms form new relationships with new partners as a form of exploration, and form additional relationships with existing partners as a form of exploitation (March 1991). Further, whether exploration or exploitation is chosen depends on the type of uncertainty that firms are facing: whether it is firm-specific or market-level uncertainty. We test our hypotheses using data on both interlock and alliance networks for the 300 largest U.S. firms during the 1988-1993 period. The results provide some evidence that whether networks are stable or changing depends on the type of uncertainty experienced by firms.
The lack of efficacy for oral contrast in the diagnosis of appendicitis by computed tomography.

Background Oral contrast is often used with computed tomography (CT) for the diagnosis of appendicitis. This adjunct adds time to evaluation, not all patients can tolerate enteric bolus, and the diagnostic advantages have not been well defined. Therefore, we reviewed our experience to evaluate the impact of oral contrast on diagnostic efficiency and its impact on the patient. Methods After obtaining IRB approval, a retrospective review was conducted on patients who underwent CT with oral contrast for the indication of appendicitis over the last 4 years. Data recorded included demographics, CT results, emergency room course, operative findings, and pathology interpretation. All images were reviewed to identify presence/absence of contrast at or beyond the terminal ileum. Results There were 1561 patients, of whom, 652 (41.8%) were diagnosed with appendicitis and 909 (58.2%) were not (non-appendicitis). Contrast was identified at least to the level of the terminal ileum in 72.4% of the entire population. The contrast was present in 76.2% of the non-appendicitis patients and 67.0% of the appendicitis patients (P = 0.01). Mean time from oral contrast administration to CT imaging was 105.5 min, which was longer in patients with appendicitis (112.2 min) compared with non-appendicitis patients (100.9 min) (P = 0.01). Emesis of the contrast occurred in 19.3% of those with appendicitis and 12.9% of those without appendicitis (P = 0.001). Nasogastric tubes were placed in 5.8% of those with appendicitis and 5.1% of those without (P = 0.37). Appendicitis was confirmed at operation in 94.3% of those with contrast in the area and 94.4% of those without (P = 1.0). Pathology confirmed appendicitis in 90.6% of those with contrast in the area and 94.0% of those without (P = 0.17). Conclusion Nearly 30% of patients receiving oral contrast for the CT diagnosis of appendicitis do not have contrast in the point of interest at the expense of emesis, nasogastric tube placement, and diagnostic delay. These detriments are amplified in patients who have appendicitis. Further, there appears to be no diagnostic compromise in those without contrast in the terminal ileum.
NCBI’s LocusLink and RefSeq

The NCBI has introduced two new web resources-LocusLink and RefSeq-that facilitate retrieval of gene-based information and provide reference sequence standards. These resources are designed to provide a non-redundant view of current knowledge about human genes, transcripts and proteins. Additional information about these resources is available on the LocusLink web site at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/LocusLink/
The influence of visual landscape on the free flight behavior of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster

To study the visual cues that control steering behavior in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, we reconstructed three-dimensional trajectories from images taken by stereo infrared video cameras during free flight within structured visual landscapes. Flies move through their environment using a series of straight flight segments separated by rapid turns, termed saccades, during which the fly alters course by approximately 90 degrees in less than 100 ms. Altering the amount of background visual contrast caused significant changes in the fly's translational velocity and saccade frequency. Between saccades, asymmetries in the estimates of optic flow induce gradual turns away from the side experiencing a greater motion stimulus, a behavior opposite to that predicted by a flight control model based upon optomotor equilibrium. To determine which features of visual motion trigger saccades, we reconstructed the visual environment from the fly's perspective for each position in the flight trajectory. From these reconstructions, we modeled the fly's estimation of optic flow on the basis of a two-dimensional array of Hassenstein-Reichardt elementary motion detectors and, through spatial summation, the large-field motion stimuli experienced by the fly during the course of its flight. Event-triggered averages of the large-field motion preceding each saccade suggest that image expansion is the signal that triggers each saccade. The asymmetry in output of the local motion detector array prior to each saccade influences the direction (left versus right) but not the magnitude of the rapid turn. Once initiated, visual feedback does not appear to influence saccade kinematics further. The total expansion experienced before a saccade was similar for flight within both uniform and visually textured backgrounds. In summary, our data suggest that complex behavioral patterns seen during free flight emerge from interactions between the flight control system and the visual environment.
A New Measure of Group Influence in Presidential Elections: Assessing Latino Influence in 2008

The importance of the Latino electorate has been the subject of both academic inquiry and media discourses. The question of Latino influence is frequently limited by an approach that focuses on sin...
Epiermal morphology and sloughing frequency in normal and prolactin treated Anolis carolinensis (Iguanidae, Lacertilia)

The morphology of the epidermal generations throughout the sloughing cycle of Anolis carolinensis is essentially the same as that described for other squamates, whether studied in control or hormone-injected animals. Readily identifiable granules in the clear layer of this and other lizard species emphasize the eventual hardening of this layer prior to its separation from the subjacent Oberhautchen, which brings about sloughing. Eosinophils are described for the first time in the lacunar tissue of lizard, but their functional role remains problematical. Daily 25 μg injections of prolactin (alone or in combination with gonadotropins) raise the frequency of sloughing by shortening the resting phase as compared with controls and animals receiving 1.0 I.U./day injections of gonadotropins. The duration of the proliferation-renewal phase and the pattern of histological changes occurring therein is unchanged by experimental treatments. The results show that neither endogenous nor exogenous gonadotropins affect the sloughing frequency, but exogenous prolactin produces a similar effect to that described for thyroxine. Although the mechanisms of action are unknown, the results provide another example of the cutaneous action of prolactin in vertebrates.
Stat1 as a component of tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor 1-TRADD signaling complex to inhibit NF-κB activation

ABSTRACT Activated tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) receptor 1 (TNFR1) recruits TNFR1-associated death domain protein (TRADD), which in turn triggers two opposite signaling pathways leading to caspase activation for apoptosis induction and NF-κB activation for antiapoptosis gene upregulation. Here we show that Stat1 is involved in the TNFR1-TRADD signaling complex, as determined by employing a novel antibody array screening method. In HeLa cells, Stat1 was associated with TNFR1 and this association was increased with TNF-α treatment. TNFR1 signaling factors TRADD and Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD) were also found to interact with Stat1 in a TNF-α-dependent process. Our in vitro recombinant protein-protein interaction studies demonstrated that Stat1 could directly interact with TNFR1 and TRADD but not with FADD. Interaction between Stat1 and receptor-interacting protein (RIP) or TNFR-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) was not detected. Examination of Stat1-deficient cells showed an apparent increase in TNF-α-induced TRADD-RIP and TRADD-TRAF2 complex formation, while interaction between TRADD and FADD was unaffected. As a consequence, TNF-α-mediated I-κB degradation and NF-κB activation were markedly enhanced in Stat1-deficient cells, whereas overexpression of Stat1 in 293T cells blocked NF-κB activation by TNF-α. Thus, Stat1 acts as a TNFR1-signaling molecule to suppress NF-κB activation.
An Overview of the Strategy and Tactics of Taguchi

Abstract The methods of Taguchi have received considerable attention in recent years. Part of the attention is due to the success of Genichi Taguchi and his colleagues and part of the attention is due to the mystique and controversy surrounding these methods. In this paper we discuss two separate aspects of the Taguchi method: the strategy of Taguchi and the tactics of Taguchi. The Taguchi tactics involve the specific methods and techniques recommended by Taguchi such as the use of signal-to-noise ratios and the so-called Taguchi designs. We discuss the parameter design strategy of Taguchi for designing and improving products and processes from a statistical point of view. We point out that although there are some apparent flaws in Taguchi's tactics, the basic strategy is a sound one.
Clinical use of U-500 regular insulin: review and meta-analysis

The use of U-500 regular insulin (U-500R) to treat diabetic patients with severe insulin resistance has increased. In this review, we performed a meta-analysis of PubMed studies reporting the use of U-500R to evaluate the effects of U-500R on hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), body weight, and total daily insulin dose (TDD). These studies included 310 patients using U-500R as multiple daily injections (MDI) and 55 patients using U-500R via continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). Overall, the use of U-500R as MDI resulted in a significant HbA1c reduction of 1.59%, a significant weight gain of 4.38 kg, and a significant increase in TDD by 51.9 units. The use of U-500R via CSII resulted in a similarly significant HbA1c reduction of 1.64% but a nonsignificant weight gain and a nonsignificant change in TDD. The use of U-500 regular insulin both as MDI and via CSII was not reported to be associated with severe hypoglycemia but was associated with an increase in patient satisfaction as well as in cost savings. Suggestions in initiating U-500R in the outpatient setting using U-500R in hospitalized patients are reviewed. In addition, precautions for avoiding prescription and patient errors are discussed.
Content-based indexing of images and video

By representing image content using probabilistic models of an object's appearance we can obtain semantics-preserving compression of the image data. Such compact representations of an image's salient features allow rapid computer searches of even large image databases. Examples are shown for databases of face images, a video of American sign language (ASL), and a video of facial expressions.
Practice Guidelines for Music Interventions with Hospitalized Pediatric Patients

Music therapy is an effective complementary approach that can achieve specific therapeutic outcomes in the clinical management of pediatric patients. Growing research on music interventions has generated scientific knowledge about how this modality benefits patients and has formed the basis for effective protocols that can be used in practice. Although it can be challenging to translate research-based protocols into routine clinical care at the bedside, it is essential that music therapy interventions be aligned with evidence-based information and that accepted standards be established by the music therapy discipline to achieve the greatest benefit. The importance of partnerships between nurses and music therapists is emphasized to enhance the success of music-based treatments. This discussion synthesizes research findings that can be used to design pediatric practice guidelines in the application of music therapy.
Retinoic Acid Determines the Precise Tissue Tropism of Inflammatory Th17 Cells in the Intestine

Th17 cells are major effector T cells in the intestine, but the regulation of their tissue tropism within the gut is poorly understood. We investigated the roles of vitamin A and retinoic acid in generation of inflammatory Th17 cells with distinct tissue tropisms within the intestine. We found that Th17 cells with distinct tissue tropisms and pathogenic activities are generated depending on the available concentration of retinoic acid (RA). In contrast to the widespread perception that RA would suppress the generation of Th17 cells, we provide evidence that RA is actually required for generation of Th17 cells with specific tissue tropisms within the gut. Th17 cells induced at suboptimal serum concentrations of RA migrated and induced moderate inflammation mainly in the large intestine, whereas the Th17 cells induced with optimal levels of exogenous RA (approximately 10 nM) migrated to the small intestine and induced more severe inflammation. The Th17 cells, induced in the presence or absence of RA, differentially expressed the trafficking receptors CCR9 and alpha4beta7. CCR9 is required for Th17 cell migration to the small intestine, whereas alpha4beta7 is required for the migration of Th17 cells throughout the whole intestine. Our results identified RA as a major signal that regulates the generation of gut Th17 cells with distinct capacities in migration and inflammatory activities. The results indicate also that specific gut tropism of Th17 cells is determined by the combination of trafficking receptors regulated by the RA signal.
Bradycardia during baroreflex stimulation and active or passive stressor tasks : Cardiorespiratory fitness and hostility

We examined whether the resting bradycardia associated with cardiorespiratory fitness extends to lowered heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure during novel passive or active laboratory stressors and to a longer heart period during stimulation of the carotid-cardiac vagal baroreflex, independently of the Type A behavior pattern (TABP) and hostility. Forty-four normotensive Caucasian men (18-35 years of age) completed the Structured Interview for TABP, the Cook-Medley Hostility Scale, and a peak oxygen uptake (VO 2peak ) test. VO 2peak was inversely related to HR prior to, during, and after each stressor and was positively related to heart period during baroreflex testing. Hostility was inversely related to heart period during baroreflex testing. TABP had no effects. Our findings indicate that cardiorespiratory fitness and low hostility are independently associated with a bradycardia during stimulation of the carotid-cardiac baroreflex, consistent with a possible enhancement of cardiac vagal tone.
Analytical methods to assess nanoparticle toxicity

During the past 20 years, improvements in nanoscale materials synthesis and characterization have given scientists great control over the fabrication of materials with features between 1 and 100 nm, unlocking many unique size-dependent properties and, thus, promising many new and/or improved technologies. Recent years have found the integration of such materials into commercial goods; a current estimate suggests there are over 800 nanoparticle-containing consumer products (The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies Consumer Products Inventory, , accessed Oct. 2008), accounting for 147 billion USD in products in 2007 (Nanomaterials state of the market Q3 2008: stealth success, broad impact, Lux Research Inc., New York, NY, 2008). Despite this increase in the prevalence of engineered nanomaterials, there is little known about their potential impacts on environmental health and safety. The field of nanotoxicology has formed in response to this lack of information and resulted in a flurry of research studies. Nanotoxicology relies on many analytical methods for the characterization of nanomaterials as well as their impacts on in vitro and in vivo function. This review provides a critical overview of these techniques from the perspective of an analytical chemist, and is intended to be used as a reference for scientists interested in conducting nanotoxicological research as well as those interested in nanotoxicological assay development.
Role of Hsc70 binding cycle in CFTR folding and endoplasmic reticulum–associated degradation

The Hsp/c70 cytosolic chaperone system facilitates competing pathways of protein folding and degradation. Here we use a reconstituted cell-free system to investigate the mechanism and extent to which Hsc70 contributes to these co- and posttranslational decisions for the membrane protein cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Hsc70 binding to CFTR was destabilized by the C-terminal domain of Bag-1 (CBag), which stimulates client release by accelerating ADP-ATP exchange. Addition of CBag during CFTR translation slightly increased susceptibility of the newly synthesized protein to degradation, consistent with a profolding function for Hsc70. In contrast, posttranslational destabilization of Hsc70 binding nearly completely blocked CFTR ubiquitination, dislocation from the endoplasmic reticulum, and proteasome-mediated cleavage. This effect required molar excess of CBag relative to Hsc70 and was completely reversed by the CBag-binding subdomain of Hsc70. These results demonstrate that the profolding role of Hsc70 during cotranslational CFTR folding is counterbalanced by a dominant and essential role in posttranslational targeting to the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Moreover, the degradative outcome of Hsc70 binding appears highly sensitive to the duration of its binding cycle, which is in turn governed by the integrated expression of regulatory cochaperones.
An agent-based simulation laboratory for economics and infrastructure interdependency

Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed a next-generation agent-based economic 'laboratory' (N-ABLE) for analyzing the economic factors, feedbacks, and downstream effects of infrastructure interdependencies. N-ABLE is a simulation environment in which hundreds of thousands of individual economic actors simulate real-world manufacturing firms, government agencies, and households. N-ABLE can be demonstrated on a laptop supported by both an input and output graphical user interface that allow users to change parameters and simulate a multitude of "shocks" to the economy including electric power outages and shipping port closures. The tool has been used by several universities and three national laboratories for studies involving the economic impact of infrastructure and supply chain disruptions.
Refinement of Primate Copy Number Variation Hotspots Identifies Candidate Genomic Regions Evolving Under Positive Selection

Background Copy number variants (CNVs), defined as losses and gains of segments of genomic DNA, are a major source of genomic variation.
MSACompro: protein multiple sequence alignment using predicted secondary structure, solvent accessibility, and residue-residue contacts

Multiple Sequence Alignment (MSA) is a basic tool for bioinformatics research and analysis. It has been used essentially in almost all bioinformatics tasks such as protein structure modeling, gene and protein function prediction, DNA motif recognition, and phylogenetic analysis. Therefore, improving the accuracy of multiple sequence alignment is important for advancing many bioinformatics fields. We designed and developed a new method, MSACompro, to synergistically incorporate predicted secondary structure, relative solvent accessibility, and residue-residue contact information into the currently most accurate posterior probability-based MSA methods to improve the accuracy of multiple sequence alignments. The method is different from the multiple sequence alignment methods (e.g. 3D-Coffee) that use the tertiary structure information of some sequences since the structural information of our method is fully predicted from sequences. To the best of our knowledge, applying predicted relative solvent accessibility and contact map to multiple sequence alignment is novel. The rigorous benchmarking of our method to the standard benchmarks (i.e. BAliBASE, SABmark and OXBENCH) clearly demonstrated that incorporating predicted protein structural information improves the multiple sequence alignment accuracy over the leading multiple protein sequence alignment tools without using this information, such as MSAProbs, ProbCons, Probalign, T-coffee, MAFFT and MUSCLE. And the performance of the method is comparable to the state-of-the-art method PROMALS of using structural features and additional homologous sequences by slightly lower scores. MSACompro is an efficient and reliable multiple protein sequence alignment tool that can effectively incorporate predicted protein structural information into multiple sequence alignment. The software is available at http://sysbio.rnet.missouri.edu/multicom_toolbox/ .
Immersive Simulation: The Replication of Environments to Practice Problem Solving

Simulation is a form of instruction that has been used in a variety of different industries including clinical training for physicians and nurses, aviation, department of defense, weather, and customer service. Simulations have evolved throughout the decades from role-playing exercises, dramatizations, and task trainers to immersive simulations where exact replicas of real work environments are created for the sole purpose of training. This chapter explores the theoretical instructional design foundations that are helping revolutionize simulation in the fields of aviation and health care.
Medicalized Discourses and Injection Drug Use: Ascribing Humanity or Autonomy?

In this paper, I draw on interviews conducted with people associated with Insite, North America’s first and only supervised injection facility located in Vancouver, Canada, to consider the relationship between dependence, autonomy, and vulnerability. At Insite, a government funded facility, injection drug users can consume pre-obtained illegal drugs under medical supervision. I argue that by conceiving of Insite as a healthcare facility and addiction as a disease, advocates of Insite have evoked a shared notion of vulnerability among the non-drug using public and drug users, which has garnered considerable public support for the controversial site. Through Insite, the state has responded to vulnerability by providing services that reshape the meaning of dependence and in turn promote resilience for vulnerable human beings. However, the medicalized discourse that has been instrumental in cultivating support for Insite may also obscure the vulnerabilities associated with drug dependence that emerge not from addiction as “disease,” but from the stigmatization and criminalization of drug use. In turn, I argue that we should be aware of the potential pitfalls of making political claims based on a naturalized conception of vulnerability. I emphasize the socially constructed nature of human beings’ experiences of vulnerability. In turn, I argue that a state that is responsive to vulnerability must participate in the restructuring of the social relations that give meaning to notions of dependency and vulnerability themselves. In doing so, the state also actively fosters autonomy in marginalized citizens.
‘El porvenir de nuestras posesiones ultramarinas’: Appropriations of German Scholarship in Spanish Publications on the Philippines after La Gloriosa

AbstractThis article examines the roles of German scholarship in Spanish writing about the Philippines in the two decades following the 1868 Glorious Revolution in Spain. Several Spanish authors used references to German scholars to enhance the credibility of their writings about the Southeast Asian colony. Others also recognized Germany as a national rival that threatened Spanish interests in the Philippines. Both positions ultimately reinforced Spain's grip on the colony and demonstrate the ambivalent nature of incorporating foreign scholarship into a country's imperialist projects. This history further illustrates the growth of science in Spain and attempts to keep its remaining colonies following the loss of the majority of the American possessions earlier in the century.
Vessel wall imaging for intracranial vascular disease evaluation

Accurate and timely diagnosis of intracranial vasculopathies is important owing to the significant risk of morbidity with delayed and/or incorrect diagnosis both from the disease process and inappropriate therapies. Conventional luminal imaging techniques for analysis of intracranial vasculopathies are limited to evaluation of changes in the vessel lumen. Vessel wall MRI techniques can allow direct characterization of pathologic changes of the vessel wall. These techniques may improve diagnostic accuracy and improve patient outcomes. Extracranial carotid vessel wall imaging has been extensively investigated in patients with atherosclerotic disease and has been shown to accurately assess plaque composition and identify vulnerable plaque characteristics that may predict stroke risk beyond luminal stenosis alone. This review provides a brief history of vessel wall MRI, an overview of the intracranial vessel wall MRI techniques, its applications, and imaging findings of various intracranial vasculopathies pertinent to the neurointerventionalist, neurologist, and neuroradiologist. We searched MEDLINE, PubMed, and Google for English publications containing any of the following terms: 'intracranial vessel wall imaging', 'intracranial vessel wall', and 'intracranial vessel wall MRI'.
Integrating intervention targets offered by homeostatic theory

Marks presents "homeostatic theory" which proposes that weight gain is fostered by a "Circle of Discontent" consisting of body dissatisfaction, negative affect, and overconsumption. This innovative framework offers potential intervention approaches, including victim-blaming, stigma, and discrimination, as well as devalorizing the thin-ideal. Our article discusses possible ways that clinical health psychologists based in university settings may be uniquely positioned to consider and implement large-scale programs that have shown great promise for addressing these core issues.
Some distinctive biological characteristics of ECHO-10 virus.

SummaryA comparative susceptibility study of kidney cultures derived from primates and non-primates, indicates that ECHO-10 virus has distinctive biological characteristics which differentiate it from the other human enteroviruses.
TR-06COMBINATORIAL PATHWAY TARGETING APPROACHES FOR BRAF-FUSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH PEDIATRIC LOW-GRADE GLIOMAS.

INTRODUCTION: Activating BRAF-fusion mutations occur frequently in pediatric low-grade gliomas (PLGGs). We have previously shown targeting of KIAA1549-BRAF fusion by PLX4720, the research analog of vemurafenib, results in paradoxical activation of the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal cascade. We hypothesized that BRAF-fusions could be targeted by downstream MEK inhibitors (MEKi), and that combinatorial targeting of BRAF-fusions could also prevent acquired resistance to single agent therapy. METHODS: BRAF-fusions were screened with a selection of clinically relevant MEKi and with PLX8394, a second-generation RAF inhibitor, in vitro in cell culture and soft agar. BRAF V600E and RAS mutant cells were also screened for comparison. MEKi/PLX8394 resistant BRAF-fusion cell lines were generated in vitro and interrogated by sequencing, immunoblotting, and RNA-seq analysis to identify potential co-targets. Combinatorial therapy was then tested in vitro and in vivo to confirm efficacy. RESULTS: BRAF-fusions in PLGGs can be targeted by MEKi and by the pan-RAF inhibitor PLX8394. AZD6244, MEK162, GDC0623, and GDC0973 all inhibited downstream ERK phosphorylation; however, GSK1120212 more robustly inhibited MAPK activation in the BRAF-fusion, BRAF V600E, and RAS mutant cells. Interestingly, the MEKi/PLX8394 resistant BRAF-fusion cells all showed activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. BRAF-fusion parental cells were screened with RAD001, a targeted mTOR inhibitor, resulting in modest downstream inhibition. Co-targeting of the parental BRAF-fusions with GSK1120212 and RAD001 resulted in robust inhibition of down-stream signaling and in significant tumor inhibition, and prevented acquired resistance to targeted inhibition. CONCLUSION: Our work demonstrates that BRAF-fusion oncogenes can be effectively targeted with GSK1120212 as single agent but even more robustly with GSK1120212 and RAD001 co-targeting. This provides preclinical rationale for treating PLGGs harboring BRAF-fusion oncogenes with combinatorial MEK and mTOR inhibitors in clinical trial.
Hospital Airborne Bacteria as Estimated by the Andersen Sampler versus the Gravity Settling Culture Plate

The gravity settling culture (GSC) plate and Andersen’s sequential impaction cascade sieve volumetric air (SICSVA) sampler were compared, estimating airborne bacteria. Fifty-three samples were obtained in three Northern California hospitals. The SICSVA sampler collected 9,375 colonies; 865 colonies were collected in the GSC plates. Twenty-one GSC plate colonies and 247 of the Andersen sampler colonies were classified as potentially pathogenic. The GSC plate was falsely negative for coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus , Pseudomonas species, Pseudornonas achromobacter, Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and possible Erwinia, which were found repeatedly by the SICSVA sampler. Colonies isolated by the Andersen sampler may be logically grouped into a fraction that generally lodge in the upper respiratory tract and another fraction capable of entering the lung. Most of the potentially pathogenic bacterial colonies were collected in the so-called lung-penetrating fraction of the Andersen sampler. Falsely negative results were frequently indicated by the GSC plate. The GSC plate method cannot be endorsed for the quantitative evaluation of hospital airborne bacteria.
Introduction: The ABCs of Musculoskeletal Pain.

Pain has been defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage.1 This definition is particularly relevant because it takes into account the emotional component of pain, which can modify the pain signal, and recognizes that tissue damage encompasses potential as well as actual damage.
The C/S Based Management System of Maintenance Service for Institutions of Higher Leaning

The paper introduces the Client/Server based informational management system of maintenance service in Northeastern University,which uses the large web data stock SQL Server 2000 as the data management system of the rear terminal.The system has such functions as basic information maintenance,maintenance registering,automatic lining up for workers,putting material in and out storage management,so improves the service management to an upper bench.
Predictive Pointing in Cascading Pull-Down Menus

Cascading pull-down menus are common interface elements in many modern graphical interactive applications. Navigation of standard cascading pull-down menus is governed by a combination of Fitts' and Acott-Zhai steering laws, however, recent research has shown that the constraints imposed by the two laws can be overcome by reducing the target distance by either reducing the target distance or increasing the target size. This paper describes the implementation and evaluation of monitoring and prediction mechanisms that can be used to reduce the distance to the user's pointing targets within standard pull-down menus in existing, unmodified applications. Facilitated pointing can be applied to cascading pull-down menus either through pointer jumps or menu reorganization, i.e. placing copies of commonly accessed options at the top of the menus.
AN OVERVIEW OF ENDOGENOUS SUBCLINICAL HYPERTHYROIDISM AND CARDIAC DISEASE.

Abbreviations: CI = confidence interval T3 = tri-iodothyronine T4 = thyroxine TEARS = thyroid epidemiology, audit, and research study TSH = thyroid-stimulating hormone
Effect of Sr Content and Strain on Sr Surface Segregation of La1-xSrxCo0.2Fe0.8O3-δ as Cathode Material for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells.

Strontium-doped lanthanum cobalt ferrite (LSCF) is a widely used cathode material due to its high electronic and ionic conductivity, and reasonable oxygen surface exchange coefficient. However, LSCF can have long-term stability issues such as surface segregation of Sr during solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) operation, which can adversely affect the electrochemical performance. Thus, understanding the nature of the Sr surface segregation phenomenon and how it is affected by the composition of LSCF and strain are critical. In this research, heteroepitaxial thin films of La1–x SrxCo0.2Fe0.8O3−δ with varying Sr content (x = 0.4, 0.3, 0.2) were deposited by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on single-crystal NdGaO3, SrTiO3, and GdScO3 substrates, leading to different levels of strain in the films. The extent of Sr segregation at the film surface was quantified using synchrotron-based total-reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The electronic structure of the Sr-rich phases formed on t...
Electric Grid Hardening and Resiliency: Part I, Resiliency and Safety

Part I of the article summarizes research findings used for electric grid resiliency and safety. Resiliency and safety aspects of the grid, appearing as two sections of Part I are based on development of algorithms using grid topology in steady-state mode of operation and provide information for designing a more robust, efficient system while ensuring safety. Planning for robust grids using dynamic models and real-time response of equipment to system disturbances is addressed in Part II as an independent complementary sequel to Part I. In this article, grid resiliency is defined by reduction of the load down-time in Gulf Coast states, and it is improved by implementing the results from studying the system response to impact of tropical storms on the transmission system. Grid safety is measured by correctly identifying fault locations on transmission lines in Gulf Coast states and by providing guidelines for safely deenergising the faulted transmission lines. While the authors' main focus in Part I is on the use of steady-state system topology and modelling, the authors will use system dynamics and real-time modelling and simulation of Independent Pole Operation addressing dynamic aspects of robust system planning for power flow improvement in Part II of the article. The work presented in Part I and Part II of the article is performed at the Entergy-UNO Power and Energy Research Laboratory (PERL) at the University of New Orleans.
Livable Streets 2.0 Street Conflict, Power, and Promise for Livability, Health, and Humanity in the Age of Driverless Cars: An International Perspective

Background In 1981, the first edition of Livable Streets was published--a seminal work on the impacts of car traffic on community health and livability. A year later its author, Donald Appleyard was killed by a speeding drunk driver, and while the book was and still is tremendously popular, it was never reprinted. Now, Bruce Appleyard, Donald's Son, is working on an update to this book to be published by Elsevier Methods This paper is about people and their interactions in and around the most accessible public spaces of our cities. This paper provides comprehensive, evidence-based articulation, both in narrative and graphic form of the power struggle between automobiles, residents, pedestrians and other users of our streets, exposing the ill-effects of traffic on people, street life and communities, including people's ability to make important social connections with each other. As driverless technologies are currently in the process of being tested on roads around the world, this paper utilizes scenario based research as a scholarly methodology to present and compare different outcomes. This paper also presents a review of international cases and provides best practice design, engineering and policy solutions--including a discussion of the laws—that can effectively transform the power dynamic of our streets so they can become livable spaces for all. Results The findings of this paper include the impacts of intersection efficiency, shared usage scenarios, pedestrian and vehicle adapted street design, and potential overall benefits to safety. Furthermore, this paper generates policy recommendations for achieving the combined desired outcomes. The findings of this paper contribute to the research surrounding the future of urban mobility, providing recommendations on the subject of Local, State and Federal policy. Conclusions This paper provides thoughtful, comprehensive insight into a broad range of street, traffic and neighbourhood types, including practical strategies and tools for redesigning and enhancing streets, and street networks so they can support community livability, health, and ever-increasing in importance--aspects of our humanity. Part of the interactive session will be to engage the audience in a discussion of the case study examples that will be highlighted in the upcoming Elsevier publication of Livable Streets 2.0. Special attention will be given to the efforts in Barcelona to create neighborhood "super-blocks" protected from the ill-effects of traffic, outlined in Livable Streets 2.0
Integration of Vegetation Community Spatial Data into a Prescribed Fire Planning Process at Shenandoah National Park, Virginia (USA)

ABSTRACT: Many eastern forest communities depend on fire for regeneration or are enhanced by fire as a restoration practice. However, the use of prescribed fire in the mesic forested environments and the densely populated regions of the eastern United States has been limited. The objective of our research was to develop a science-based approach to prioritizing the use of prescribed fire in appropriate forest types in the eastern United States based on a set of desired management outcomes. Through a process of expert elicitation and data analysis, we assessed and integrated recent vegetation community mapping results along with other available spatial data layers into a spatial prioritization tool for prescribed fire planning at Shenandoah National Park (Virginia, USA). The integration of vegetation spatial data allowed for development of per-pixel priority rankings and exclusion areas enabling precise targeting of fire management activities on the ground, as well as a park-wide ranking of fire planning co...
Household and Neighborhood Safety, Mobility

Publisher Summary Living in a home and in a neighborhood where you feel safe, mobile, and independent is about as fundamental to daily living as one can get. For older adults, this is no less true. Research and clinical experience confirms that older adults want to live at home for as long as possible, and remain active and independent in the community. Health care professionals working with older adults are often called upon to provide informed judgments about whether a particular older adult is "at risk" in some way, given their function and living situation. These recommendations form the basis of delivery of supportive services and efforts to redesign the environment in order to support the older adults to "age in place." At other times, assessment data will point to the necessity of a residential move to ensure older adult's optimal safety. Making these determinations can be difficult. This chapter focuses on household and neighborhood safety and mobility assessments. It organizes the extant literature into three major sections: falls and balance assessments, home safety assessments, and assessments of neighborhood safety and mobility. These assessments go beyond basic assessment of activities of daily living (ADL) and overall functioning and disability. The assessments discussed in this chapter are specialized assessments that target the physical and cognitive functioning of older adults in their home and neighborhood environments.
Dehydration is how you define it: comparison of 318 blood and urine athlete spot checks.

Clinical medicine defines dehydration using blood markers that confirm hypertonicity (serum sodium concentration ([Na + ])>145 mmol/L) and intracellular dehydration. Sports medicine equates dehydration with a concentrated urine as defined by any urine osmolality (UOsm) ≥700 mOsmol/kgH 2 O or urine specific gravity (USG) ≥1.020. Objective To compare blood versus urine indices of dehydration in a cohort of athletes undergoing routine screenings. Methods 318 collegiate athletes (193 female) provided blood and urine samples and asked to rate how thirsty they were on a 10-point visual analogue scale. Serum was analysed for [Na + ], while serum and UOsm were measured using an osmometer. USG was measured using a Chemstrip. Data were categorised into dehydrated versus hydrated groupings based on these UOsm and USG thresholds. Results Using UOsm ≥700 mOsmol/kgH 2 O to define dehydration, 55% of athletes were classified as dehydrated. Using any USG ≥1.020 to define dehydration, 27% of these same athletes were classified as dehydrated. No athlete met the clinical definition for dehydration (hypertonicity; serum [Na + ]>145 mmol/L). Normonatremia (serum [Na + ] between 135 mmol/L and 145 mmol/L) was maintained in 99.7% of athletes despite wide variation in UOsm (110–1298 mOsmol/kgH 2 O). A significant correlation was confirmed between serum [Na + ] versus UOsm (r=0.18; P Conclusion Urine concentration thresholds classified 27%–55% of collegiate athletes as dehydrated, while no athlete was dehydrated according to blood [Na + ] measurement. Practitioners should caution against using urine indices to diagnose or monitor dehydration, because urinary output is a response rather than a reflection of (tightly regulated) blood tonicity.
Rebranding Tax/Increasing Diversity

Tax gets a bad rap. It is generally thought to be coercive, burdensome, complicated, unpleasant, and boring. The annual ritual of filing tax returns underscores the taking aspect of taxation by reminding even those who receive refunds that money has been taken from them. This view of tax—that it is about taking—is not only inaccurate and incomplete, but it may have had two related, significant, deleterious, but unexamined effects. Viewing the tax system only as an instrument of taking may contribute to the creation of a tax bar that is more white and less diverse than the bar in general, and that may, in turn, contribute to the existence of a tax system that disproportionately favors the relatively non-diverse population of taxpayers at the top of the income distribution. This Article examines the first of these effects. We attempt to answer to a question that has gone unasked for far too long: Why is the tax bar so white? We believe that an answer to that question lies in the unexamined implications of the concept of tax expenditures. We therefore connect four things: (1) tax expenditures, (2) the way in which the acceptance of the concept has enshrined the notion that taxation should be synonymous only with raising revenue, (3) the consequent relegation of social values to an outsider status, and (4) the lack of diversity in the tax bar. Our claim is that a field of law that regards a single goal—in this case, raising revenue—as its proper objective, is likely to attract to it a more monolithic group of individuals than a field of law that is concerned with promoting multiple and diverse social values. Over time the useful descriptive concept of tax expenditures has evolved into a prescription that the tax system be purged of objectives other than the raising of revenue. Tax expenditures have come to be viewed as undeserving interlopers into what would otherwise be a pristine revenue raising machine. That view devalues the role of social policy in the tax system and, as a consequence, has obscured and constrained the nature of the tax law. This normative perspective on the tax system is not only incorrect but may be contributing to the lack of racial and ethnic diversity in the tax bar, because it likely constricts the group of individuals who may be attracted to tax. Given that available data shows that law students who are members of racial and ethnic minorities are more likely than others to state that they want to “change or improve society” and engage in “socially responsible work,” we suggest a link between the lack of racial and ethnic diversity in the tax bar and the normative legacy of tax expenditures, which casts the normative tax system as unconcerned with anything other than raising revenue.
The Persuasive Architecture of Destination Websites: The Effect on First Impressions

The design of websites can be a powerful tool to influence information seeking and choice. Recent studies have indicated that designing websites which evoke a favourable first impression is extremely important. The goal of this study was to investigate the key design factors in the formation of impressions towards web interfaces. An empirical study based on a self-report questionnaire was conducted and found that design elements related to inspiration, usability and credibility were significant drivers in the formation of first impression towards web interfaces. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of the empirical results and directions for future study.
Calcium and Receptor-Mediated Phosphoinositide Breakdown in Exocrine Gland Cells

Exocrine glands provide excellent models for examining the relationship of phosphoinositide metabolism to receptors and ion movements. Homogeneous preparations of tissue fragments, isolated acini, and isolated cells are well characterized and extensively studied as to the cellular events involved in the secretory response; specifically, the roles of Ca2+ and cAMP as second messengers have been examined in some detail.