cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Revealing the Dynamics of Thylakoid Membranes in Living Cyanobacterial Cells

Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic prokaryotes that make major contributions to the production of the oxygen in the Earth atmosphere. The photosynthetic machinery in cyanobacterial cells is housed in flattened membrane structures called thylakoids. The structural organization of cyanobacterial cells and the arrangement of the thylakoid membranes in response to environmental conditions have been widely investigated. However, there is limited knowledge about the internal dynamics of these membranes in terms of their flexibility and motion during the photosynthetic process. We present a direct observation of thylakoid membrane undulatory motion in vivo and show a connection between membrane mobility and photosynthetic activity. High-resolution inelastic neutron scattering experiments on the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 assessed the flexibility of cyanobacterial thylakoid membrane sheets and the dependence of the membranes on illumination conditions. We observed softer thylakoid membranes in the dark that have three-to four fold excess mobility compared to membranes under high light conditions. Our analysis indicates that electron transfer between photosynthetic reaction centers and the associated electrochemical proton gradient across the thylakoid membrane result in a significant driving force for excess membrane dynamics. These observations provide a deeper understanding of the relationship between photosynthesis and cellular architecture.
Do Medicare HMOs and Medicare FFS differ in their use of the Medicare hospice benefit

This study compares use of the hospice benefit in Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) and Medicare risk-health maintenance organization (HMO) options in South Florida in 1992. A higher percentage of deaths occurred in hospice in the HMO option than in the FFS option. Compared to individuals in the FFS option, HMO-enrolled hospice users had longer lengths of hospice stay, lower 7-day mortality and higher 180-day (6 month) survival. These differences are consistent with the physician's financial incentives associated with the two programs.
The Object Dimension: Assumptions

This pair of children’s poems expresses two intuitive ideas implicit in the object dimension of philosophical space. The first verse, which many of us as children were urged to chant back at tormentors, asserts that sticks and stones as material objects have mass, whereas mere names do not and therefore cannot physically injure us. The second poem expresses the idea that objects occupy space and that two different objects cannot occupy the same space at the same time. For centuries these two ideas have defined the real, as having mass and occupying space. ‘Whenever there is the body, there is the ākāśa [space/ether]. The body becomes related to the ākāśa because the latter gives room to the former.’2
The Epidemiology of Dental Caries

Up, and after putting several things in order to my removal, to Woolwich; the plague having a great increase this week, beyond all expectation, of almost 2,000, making the general Bill 7,000, odd 100; and the plague above 6,000. Thus this month ends with great sadness upon the public, through the greatness of the plague everywhere throughout the kingdom almost. Every day sadder and sadder news of its increase. In the city dies this week 7,496, and of them 6,102 of the plague. But is feared that the true number of the dead this week is near 10 000: partly from the poor that cannot be taken notice of, through the greatness of the number, and partly from the Quakers and others that will not have any bell ring for them.
Noise analysis methodology for a dual-diaphragm medical device air pump

A noise analysis is conducted on a DC powered dual diaphragm air pump. Using a sound level meter, data acquisition chassis and a LabVIEW based fast Fourier Transform tool, the acoustic spectrum of the pump operating under nominal conditions is obtained. The majority of the acoustic energy propagating from the pump is within the 20 to 2000 Hertz range, classifying the pump acoustics as low pitched and but audible. The large peaks of the power spectrum graphs appear as multiples of the rotational frequency of the DC motor allowing for easy comparison between separate trials. The pump noise is classified as a low pitched with the highest peaks below 60 dB. Inline attenuation devices are placed on the inlet of the pump to neutralize transmitted noise. The effectiveness of the inline filters is assessed using acoustic analysis tools and techniques.
An Organizational Structure of Indie Rock Musicians as Displayed by Facebook Usage

Indie rock musicians are a group of extra-institutional individuals who play an often-vibrant role in urban economic development. The organizational structure that guides their professional activit...
The Timing of Planned Delivery: Strengthening the Case for 39 Weeks.

Almost 20 years ago, we both finished Ob/Gyn residency training programs and joined obstetrics and gynecology practices in the northeastern part of the United States. We each remember our in-hospital days–Thursday and Friday, because they always began by starting several inductions on the labor floor and then performing 1 or 2 scheduled cesarean deliveries. Scheduling deliveries was the norm in those days. Patients would eagerly take out their brand new Palm Pilots to pick a date for their induction or cesarean. Once a patient had reached “term,” defined as 37 weeks gestation, everyone agreed that it was fair game to start planning for delivery. The high rate of planned delivery represented a perfect storm in which patients’ and providers’ interests aligned precisely. What patient didn’t want to schedule her induction or cesarean by the light of a day and avoid a mad dash to the hospital? Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to tell your boss exactly when your maternity leave would start and be sure that Grandma was in town to watch your other kids? And planning was a win–win for providers as well, because it allowed you to personally deliver your patients. Once a woman had reached 37 weeks, delivery was often scheduled on your hospital day and … Address correspondence to Siobhan M. Dolan, MD, MPH, Montefiore Medical Center, 1695 Eastchester Rd, Suite 301, Bronx, NY 10461. E-mail: siobhanmdolan{at}yahoo.com
Sissy That Performance Script! The Queer Pedagogy of RuPaul’s Drag Race

This chapter uses autoethnographic writing to interrogate the author’s sense making processes regarding his own queer identity, focusing in particular on the effects of RuPaul’s Drag Race (RPDR) as an example of mediated queer representation. Elaborating on writings that posit that drag can function as a performative pedagogy for gender, the narratives offered in this chapter situate RPDR as central to understanding, enacting, and reifying certain elements of queer performance scripts. The chapter concludes as the author uses existing scholarship on mediated representations to ask what does RPDR do well, and what could the show do better—critically and analytically turning to question RPDR’s efficacy as queer cultural representation.
Critical J-integral and tearing energies for fracture of reinforced natural rubber

Abstract The critical tearing energy and J- integral for initiation and rapid crack propagation at 22°C were determined for carbon black reinforced natural rubber. Tearing energies were 20 per cent and up to 100 per cent greater for initiation and rupture, respectively, and more scattered than the J values. Specimen geometry affects both fracture characterizing parameters because of the energy dissipated during deformation. However, the J- integral analysis can partition this energy between the crack tip region and the bulk of the specimen. Therefore, application of the J- integral concept for characterizing fracture of elastomers is promising.
Athletes’ perceptions of the climate for sexual and gender minority athletes and their intervention in bias

Young athletes are engaging in sports in an ever-evolving environment where larger discourses and public opinion polls suggest that attitudes toward sexual and gender minorities (SGM) are becoming ...
Enacting Possible Worlds: Making Sense of (Human) Nature

Contemporary approaches to understanding mathematical modelling typically assume a strict separation and subsequent mediation between applications embedded in a real (material) world and mathematical models embedded within an ideal (mental) world. Such views are burdened with traditional epistemological problems of reconciling potentially irreconcilable ontological differences wrought by Cartesian dualism. Enactivism, however, recognises that as embodied beings within the world, we to some extent also embody the world within ourselves. The standard “pragmatic” approach to unfolding this crucial enactivist notion of “double-embodiment” is to adopt a “realist” ontology with regard to being in the world, and an “idealist” ontology with regard to the world in us. Ironically this pragmatic approach to enactivism appears to embrace the very Cartesian problematic it set out to reject. In contrast, the enactivist approach proposed here rejects both realism and idealism: i.e., both ontological poles of Cartesian dualism. Drawing instead on Merleau-Ponty's metaphysical notion of “flesh” as an ontological primitive, it is a view rooted in a definitively non-Cartesian ontological monism that takes the traditionally conceived objective “real” world we are in and the subjective “ideal” world within us to be manifestations of the same world. Accordingly, an enactivist approach to double-embodiment more closely aligned with this non-Cartesian ontological monism is presented that draws an epistemological distinction between our “outer experience” of being in the world and our “inner experience” of the world being in us. Two interrelated characteristics, spacetime and imagination, serve to maintain this epistemological distinction between outer experience and inner experience, and to provide groundwork for an enactivist epistemology that can account for knowledge of particular objects, and general concepts and propositions. Overall, a crucial aspect of this more “radical” approach to enactivism is that whatever principles are at play in generating and organising the world, those very same principles are at play in generating and organising ourselves and vice versa. Educational implications are discussed.
The working alliance: an interdisciplinary case management strategy for health professionals

This article describes strategies for building working alliances among stakeholders in the rehabilitation process. Beginning with the intake interview and progressing through clarifying expectations, establishing bonds, setting goals, formulating tasks and resolving conflicts, the working alliance provides a model for meeting a wide range of client needs in a comprehensive, cost-effective manner.
Midostaurin for the management of FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemia and advanced systemic mastocytosis.

Purpose This article reviews the pharmacology, efficacy, safety, cost, and future directions of midostaurin for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), aggressive systemic mastocytosis, systemic mastocytosis with associated hematological neoplasm, and mast cell leukemia, collectively known as advanced systemic mastocytosis (SM). Summary Midostaurin was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3)- mutated AML. FLT3 is a tyrosine kinase which plays a key role in proliferation of early hematopoietic progenitor cells. In addition to having activity against FLT3, midostaurin inhibits several other tyrosine kinases which led to its approval for the treatment of advanced SM. Conclusion Midostaurin offers a novel strategy to treat both FLT3-mutated AML and advanced SM. With a comparable adverse effect profile to other agents and substantial antiproliferative activity, midostaurin offers a therapeutic option for patients who have historically been difficult to treat.
Adverse childhood experiences and MSM marijuana use

Abstract Background: Past research identified individuals who experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are at a higher risk of drug use. There is evidence to suggest that identifying as a man who has sex with other men (MSM) may increase the likelihood of drug use when adverse childhood experiences are prevalent. However, research has not addressed if this association is present in both rural and urban MSM, as other studies found that rurality/urbanity is a key determinant in detrimental outcomes for MSM. The current study uses ACEs as an independent variable in comparing rural and urban MSM’s self-reported marijuana use. Methods: Participants included 156 MSM residing in Oklahoma. Linear regression was used to test ACEs’ associations with reported marijuana use. To explore nuanced differences between rural and urban populations, split sample regressions were conducted. Results: ACEs were statistically associated with reported marijuana use in the full sample. However, after splitting the sample, ACEs only predicted reported marijuana use in the urban and not in the rural sample. Conclusions: Results suggest ACEs may affect rural and urban MSM dissimilarly. It is unclear, however, if rural MSM engage in maladaptive behaviors other than marijuana use, or if factors associated with urban environments make urban MSM more vulnerable to illicit drug use when ACEs are high. Regardless, trauma informed programming targeting MSM should consider geographic locale as an influential factor. Further investigation is needed with regards to geographic locale, ACEs, and other illicit drug use in MSM populations.
Ultra-trace element analysis of human follicular fluid by ICP-MS/MS: pre-analytical challenges, contamination control, and matrix effects

Follicular fluid (FF), which is the fluid that envelops the developing oocyte (egg cell) in the ovary, can be analyzed to assess trace element content as well as to determine potential exposure to toxic elements in women seeking in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Such measurements may be useful in establishing associations with potential adverse effects on oocyte viability and subsequent pregnancy outcomes. The principal goal of this study was to leverage the next generation of inorganic mass spectrometry based on ICP-MS/MS to address the numerous analytical challenges of (ultra-)trace element analysis of human FF specimens. Ultra-trace element measurements are defined by the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute as fluid concentrations below 10 μg L-1 or tissue mass fractions below 1 μg g-1. Stringent pre-analytical procedures were developed to minimize exogenous contamination during FF specimen collection and storage in a prospective study of 56 women seeking IVF treatment. ICP-MS/MS instrumental parameters were carefully optimized, and the method validated for 11 biologically important elements that included 4 at trace levels (Cu, Se, Sr, and Zn) and 7 at ultra-trace levels (As, Cd, Co, Mo, Mn, Hg, and Pb). Method limits of detection (LODs) for ultra-trace elements varied from 5.6 ng L-1 for Cd to 0.11 μg L-1 for Mo. A total of 197 human FF specimens were analyzed using the proposed ICP-MS/MS method with 84% of specimens detectable for Pb and 100% detectable for Co, Cu, Mn, Mo, Sr, and Zn. The method based on ICP-MS/MS was compared to a previous method developed for FF using SF-ICP-MS.
Social and Emotional Learning: A Principled Science of Human Development in Context

Decades of research and practice in social and emotional development have left us with a body of knowledge that tells us that (1) social, emotional, and cognitive development are intertwined in the...
Treatment of horizontal silage bunker runoff using biochar amended vegetative filter strips.

Abstract Horizontal silage bunkers produce leachate that contains contaminants that can be detrimental to the environment if released untreated. Vegetated filter strips are used to treat silage bunker runoff to prevent contamination of surface waters via infiltration, however increased infiltration poses risks to groundwater, particularly for nitrate (NO3−). Vegetated filter strip plots with a sandy loam soil, half of which are amended with biochar, were investigated to assess the treatment of silage bunker runoff over 20 application events. The subsurface effluent biological oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total phosphorus (TP) were reduced on average by 40%, 46%, and 75%, respectively, and there was no statistical difference between treatments. The total nitrogen (TN) was reduced by 49 and 64% for control and biochar plots, respectively, which was significantly different between treatments. Biochar significantly reduced nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N) leaching by 40% compared to the control, however, the NO3−-N concentration in leachate was still high ranging from 0.19 to 191.04 mg NO3−-N L−1 and 0.18–108.89 mg NO3−-N L−1 for control and biochar plots, respectively. A mass balance suggests the primary mechanism for a decrease in TN and NO3−-N leaching from biochar amended plots was greater retention of NO3−-N and organic N (ORG-N) within the soil/biochar matrix. The development of oxygenated functional groups and/or formation of organomineral layer on the biochar surface likely enhanced N retention.
Updating Algerian solar atlas using MEERA-2 data source

Abstract According to its geographical location, Algeria holds one of the highest solar potential in the Mediterranean basin, as indicated in many studies. Unfortunately, an important lack of data of the solar global radiation is observed. With a huge area of 2 381 741 km2, it is necessary to have numerous stations performing radiation measurement in order to quantify in an objective way the solar potential. Previously, several studies have been conducted dealing with solar potential evaluation. In this study, an update of the Algerian solar atlas is presented. Thus, a solar mapping on the national territory was carried out based this time on data measured over a period of almost 37 years. In fact MEERA-2 ”The Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2, NASA”, were used in this study. Therefore, solar maps for solar radiation on different tilting planes were plotted thanks to the use of SURFER® software, through Kriging interpolation method. Furthermore, measured data for five (05) locations across the country were used in order to make comparison to those given by MERRA-2.
Fingolimod-induced immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

Abstract Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease targeting myelin in the central nervous system (CNS). MS is the leading cause of disability in young adults. The latest prevalence data estimates that there are 913,925 MS patients in the US. 1 Fingolimod (Gilenya®) was introduced in 2010 as the first oral disease modifying therapy (DMT) to treat relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). Fingolimod is a sphingosine-1-phospate (S-1-P) modulator that sequesters lymphocytes in lymph nodes leading to fewer available cells entering the CNS and thus preventing myelin destruction and clinical relapses. 2 Adverse effects include macular edema, bradycardia, lymphopenia and the rare development of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in patients infected with the JC Virus. We present the first reported fingolimod-induced thrombocytopenic case in North America.
Abstract LB-212: Circadian melatonin signal disruption by exposure to artificial light at night promotes bone lytic breast cancer metastases

Breast cancer (BC) metastasis to bone is most common in patients with advanced metastatic BC. Erosion of bone by BC metastases increases bone fragility, risk of fracture and mortality in BC patients. Bone metastatic BC cannot be surgically removed and can only be treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Circadian rhythms are daily cycles of ~24 h that control most physiologic processes, disruption of these processes by exposure to artificial light at night (LAN) has been shown to be strongly associated with the development of cancer, particularly breast cancer. Disruption (suppression) of melatonin (MLT) production by LAN is considered as a risk factor for BC. The present study addressed the hypothesis that circadian MLT disruption by dim LAN (dLAN) promotes osteolytic bone metastatic BC. Our research shows that the disruption of the anti-cancer circadian hormone MLT signaling by exposure to dLAN can significantly enhance the metastatic potential of BC cells. This supports the report of the International Agency for Research on Cancer that night shift work is a “probable human carcinogen” and highlights the association between exposure to LAN and invasive BC. We have previously reported that human breast tumor xenografts grown in athymic nude female rats housed in a photoperiod of 12h light at day:12h dLAN (suppressed melatonin signal), display resistance to doxorubicin (Dox). More importantly, tumor growth and drug resistance could be blocked by the administration of Dox in circadian alignment with nocturnal MLT. Our present results show that moderately metastatic luminal A estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) positive MCF-7 BC cells, when inoculated into the tibia (to mimic bone metastatic disease) of MLT-producing Foxn1nu athymic nude mice and housed in dLAN (suppressed nocturnal melatonin production), developed robust bone metastatic tumors (P Acknowledgements: Supported in part by U54 GM104940 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the NIH, which funds the Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science Center (LACATS). Citation Format: Muralidharan Anbalagan. Circadian melatonin signal disruption by exposure to artificial light at night promotes bone lytic breast cancer metastases [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-212.
Dialysis Filter Life in COVID-19: Early Lessons from the Pandemic

Nephrologists take pride in ensuring that kidney failure is not a life-limiting determinant of health in the intensive care unit (ICU). Although mortality is high in those with AKI, continuous RRT (CRRT) offers a means to support those who require time to recover from their primary insult (1,2). However, for centers hit with early surges from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the inability to provide effective dialysis was both a fear and a reality (3,4). Hospitals faced unprecedented supply-chain resource limitations (at least for American medicine) and strains on nursing staff (4). In addition, these patients showed a degree of systemic hypercoagulability that was disproportionate to what was expected in critical illness, with unique features, including a consumptive disseminated intravascular coagulation coexisting with hyperfibrinolysis and increased bleeding risk (5). Maintaining circuit patency, a problem that nephrologists have faced in providing effective clearance and volume management since the origins of hemodialysis, became a common theme once again (3). A number of studies have documented the efficacy of regional citrate anticoagulation for the prevention of clotting (6), and this strategy has been adopted by many centers, including ours, for the delivery of CRRT in patients with increased clotting risk. It became readily apparent, however, that many patients with COVID-19 had a significant burden of filter clotting, despite the use of regional citrate, optimization of vascular access, and adjustments in the CRRT prescription to reduce intrafilter hemoconcentration. This generated shorter, suboptimal treatments for patients, and caused a higher burden for nurses who had to repeatedly attend to machine alarms inside patients’ rooms. The absence of peer-reviewed literature forced direct communications between colleagues in early COVID-19 “hot spots” and anecdotes from American Society of Nephrology message boards as the only means for early clinical guidance. Many centers trialed …
Spasmodic Dysphonia and Vocal Tremor

Spasmodic dysphonia is a focal laryngeal dystonia affecting the voice. Several subtypes exist, presenting different diagnostic and treatment challenges. Vocal tremor is a separate disorder characterized by involuntary oscillation of the laryngeal and pharyngeal musculature, resulting in modulation of pitch and loudness. Overall there are many features of spasmodic dysphonia and vocal tremor that are still poorly understood. This chapter will review the disorders as well as the current levels of evidence for both nonsurgical and surgical management.
Demographic, clinical, and epidemiologic characteristics of persons under investigation for Coronavirus Disease 2019-United States, January 17-February 29, 2020.

BACKGROUND: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), evolved rapidly in the United States. This report describes the demographic, clinical, and epidemiologic characteristics of 544 U.S. persons under investigation (PUI) for COVID-19 with complete SARS-CoV-2 testing in the beginning stages of the pandemic from January 17 through February 29, 2020. METHODS: In this surveillance cohort, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided consultation to public health and healthcare professionals to identify PUI for SARS-CoV-2 testing by quantitative real-time reverse-transcription PCR. Demographic, clinical, and epidemiologic characteristics of PUI were reported by public health and healthcare professionals during consultation with on-call CDC clinicians and subsequent submission of a CDC PUI Report Form. Characteristics of laboratory-negative and laboratory-positive persons were summarized as proportions for the period of January 17-February 29, and characteristics of all PUI were compared before and after February 12 using prevalence ratios. RESULTS: A total of 36 PUI tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and were classified as confirmed cases. Confirmed cases and PUI testing negative for SARS-CoV-2 had similar demographic, clinical, and epidemiologic characteristics. Consistent with changes in PUI evaluation criteria, 88% (13/15) of confirmed cases detected before February 12, 2020, reported travel from China. After February 12, 57% (12/21) of confirmed cases reported no known travel- or contact-related exposures. CONCLUSIONS: These findings can inform preparedness for future pandemics, including capacity for rapid expansion of novel diagnostic tests to accommodate broad surveillance strategies to assess community transmission, including potential contributions from asymptomatic and presymptomatic infections.
Fast Key-Value Lookups with Node Tracker

Lookup operations for in-memory databases are heavily memory bound, because they often rely on pointer-chasing linked data structure traversals. They also have many branches that are hard-to-predict due to random key lookups. In this study, we show that although cache misses are the primary bottleneck for these applications, without a method for eliminating the branch mispredictions only a small fraction of the performance benefit is achieved through prefetching alone. We propose the Node Tracker (NT), a novel programmable prefetcher/pre-execution unit that is highly effective in exploiting inter key-lookup parallelism to improve single-thread performance. We extend NT with branch outcome streaming (BOS) to reduce branch mispredictions and show that this achieves an extra 3× speedup. Finally, we evaluate the NT as a pre-execution unit and demonstrate that we can further improve the performance in both single- and multi-threaded execution modes. Our results show that, on average, NT improves single-thread performance by 4.1× when used as a prefetcher; 11.9× as a prefetcher with BOS; 14.9× as a pre-execution unit and 18.8× as a pre-execution unit with BOS. Finally, with 24 cores of the latter version, we achieve a speedup of 203× and 11× over the single-core and 24-core baselines, respectively.
Supportive care of right ventricular failure due to fat embolism syndrome

Pulmonary fat embolism is a common phenomenon in cases of traumatic long bone fractures, with only a minority developing the more catastrophic Fat Embolism Syndrome (FES). Diagnosis is clinical and requires a high index of suspicion. Treatment remains under-investigated, with common interventions having low quality level-of-evidence and no mortality benefit. In severe cases, focus should be on supporting the failing right ventricle through use of inotropes, pulmonary vasodilators, and mechanical circulatory support. This requires a thorough understanding of the unique physiology through the pulmonary circulation.
Estimating the Inter- and Intra-Rater Reliability for NASH Fibrosis Staging in the Presence of Bridge Ordinal Ratings with Hierarchical Bridge Category Models

The public health burden of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a liver condition characterized by excessive lipid accumulation and subsequent tissue inflammation and fibrosis, has burgeoned with the spread of western lifestyle habits. Progression of fibrosis into cirrhosis is assessed using histological staging scales (e.g., NASH Clinical Research Network (NASH CRN)). These scales are used to monitor disease progression as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of therapies. However, clinical drug trials for NASH are typically underpowered due to lower than expected inter-/intra-rater reliability, which impacts measurements at screening, baseline, and endpoint. Bridge ratings represent a phenomenon where pathologists assign two adjacent stages simultaneously during assessment and may further complicate these analyses when ad hoc procedures are applied. Statistical techniques, dubbed Bridge Category Models, have been developed to account for bridge ratings, but not for the scenario where multiple pathologists assess biopsies across time points. Here, we develop hierarchical Bayesian extensions for these statistical methods to account for repeat observations and use these methods to assess the impact of bridge ratings on the inter-/intra-rater reliability of the NASH CRN staging scale. We also report on how pathologists may differ in their assignment of bridge ratings to highlight different staging practices. Our findings suggest that Bridge Category Models can capture additional fibrosis staging heterogeneity with greater precision, which translates to potentially higher reliability estimates in contrast to the information lost through ad hoc approaches.
Assessing the impact of systematic instruction: dimensions of success

An essential aspect of systematic instruction is the instructors' efforts to assess the positive impact of their instruction. However, the full effect of systematic instruction cannot be assessed only through documentation of increases in target skills. Instead, additional measures are necessary to fully evaluate the success of instructional efforts. This article discusses eight dimensions across which the success of systematic instructional efforts can be assessed with learners with severe disabilities. For each dimension, suggestions are offered for practitioners on ways to efficiently document the impact of their systematic instruction. Altogether, these dimensions highlight the importance of overall quality of life enhancement as a fundamental result of our instructional efforts. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.
Arithmetic Groups and Their Generalizations

In one guise or another, many mathematicians are familiar with certain arithmetic groups, such as $\mathbf{Z}$ or $\textrm{SL}(n,\mathbf{Z})$. Yet, many applications of arithmetic groups and many connections to other subjects within mathematics are less well known. Indeed, arithmetic groups admit many natural and important generalizations. The purpose of this expository book is to explain, through some brief and informal comments and extensive references, what arithmetic groups and their generalizations are, why they are important to study, and how they can be understood and applied to many fields, such as analysis, geometry, topology, number theory, representation theory, and algebraic geometry. It is hoped that such an overview will shed a light on the important role played by arithmetic groups in modern mathematics. Titles in this series are co-published with International Press, Cambridge, MA. Table of Contents: Introduction; General comments on references; Examples of basic arithmetic groups; General arithmetic subgroups and locally symmetric spaces; Discrete subgroups of Lie groups and arithmeticity of lattices in Lie groups; Different completions of $\mathbb{Q}$ and $S$-arithmetic groups over number fields; Global fields and $S$-arithmetic groups over function fields; Finiteness properties of arithmetic and $S$-arithmetic groups; Symmetric spaces, Bruhat-Tits buildings and their arithmetic quotients; Compactifications of locally symmetric spaces; Rigidity of locally symmetric spaces; Automorphic forms and automorphic representations for general arithmetic groups; Cohomology of arithmetic groups; $K$-groups of rings of integers and $K$-groups of group rings; Locally homogeneous manifolds and period domains; Non-cofinite discrete groups, geometrically finite groups; Large scale geometry of discrete groups; Tree lattices; Hyperbolic groups; Mapping class groups and outer automorphism groups of free groups; Outer automorphism group of free groups and the outer spaces; References; Index. Review from Mathematical Reviews: ...the author deserves credit for having done the tremendous job of encompassing every aspect of arithmetic groups visible in today's mathematics in a systematic manner; the book should be an important guide for some time to come. (AMSIP/43.)
Leukotriene B4 controls methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin infection (MPF2P.815)

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was traditionally a nosocomial pathogen but community-associated MRSA clones have emerged as a cause of severe necrotizing cutaneous infection. Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a potent lipid mediator produced by 5-lipoxygenase (5LO) that is important in host defense against many pathogens including Streptococcus pneumoniae lung infections and Leishmania amazonensis skin infections. We hypothesize that 5LO-/- and mice lacking LTB4 receptor (BLT1-/-) are more susceptible to MRSA skin infection than wild type (WT) mice. MRSA was inoculated subcutaneously in shaved backs of 5LO-/- or BLT1-/- and WT mice. We observed delayed skin lesion healing in 5LO-/- or BLT1-/- compared to WT. Both genotypes had higher bacterial burden in the site of infection than WT. H&E staining showed more leukocyte recruitment and epidermis thickening in both genotypes compared to the WT. We did not observe any change in phagocytosis of MRSA in macrophages from WT and BLT1-/-, which suggests a defect in killing. However, macrophages from 5LO-/- mice produced less nitric oxide, a potent microbicide, than WT macrophages. Topical treatment of 5LO-/- mice with an ointment containing LTB4 at the site of infection reduced lesion size when compared to untreated mice. These findings suggest that LTB4 is an important agent in skin host defense mechanisms. LTB4 is a likely candidate to be used as an immunotherapeutic agent to control MRSA infections.
Quantitative Aspects of the Insulin-Receptor Interaction in Liver Plasma Membranes

Abstract The interaction of insulin with a purified and well characterized preparation of liver plasma membranes has been studied. The time course of binding of 125I-insulin and displacement of tracer at the plateau of binding was measured as a function of temperature and ionic strength. Hormone tracer concentrations were in the low physiologic range. The reaction is complex and includes reversible binding of insulin to its receptor and degradation of both insulin and receptor. The degrading reactions were minimized by using low to medium membrane concentrations and were corrected for by measuring the intact insulin remaining. When the binding reaction was studied over the range of 0.06 to 1000 ng per ml of insulin at 30°, the data fit a model with a minimum of three classes of receptor sites: a high affinity low capacity site with a K of 2.0 x 109 m-1 and a capacity of 5 x 10-14 moles per mg of membrane protein; a low affinity-high capacity site with a K of 2.1 x 108 m-1 and a capacity of 1.5 x 10-12 moles per mg of membrane protein; and a very low affinity-high capacity site ("nonspecific site") representing about 5% of the total tracer binding. Both the affinity and binding capacity are influenced by temperature and ionic strength. Kinetic data for insulin receptor complex dissociation are also consistent with heterogeneity of receptor sites. Discrepancies in the literature between the number of reported classes of insulin receptor sites and their affinity constants are discussed in terms of the variables of this complex reaction.
Coupling measurement and lightning threat assessment report for Pantex Cell 12-44-1

This report is the first of a series that will quantify the lightning threat to the Pantex Plant where high-risk operations occur. More information can be found in the report written by the Lightning Protection Team [1] and Sandia National Laboratory documents. Low-power RF coupling measurements were completed on Cell 12-44-1 in May 1998. These measurements quantify the voltage and current levels that could leak into the cell from possible lightning strike points. Cell 1 is representative of the most �leaky� class of cells at Pantex because the floor was not intentionally electrically connected to the walls. From the measurement data, linear models were developed. These transfer functions allow us to calculate the effect in the cell from the much higher power lightning threat. Two types of coupling paths were characterized: (1) external ventilation stack to cell interior and (2) cell ceiling to other cell elements. For the maximum lightning threat [2], an estimate of the maximum cell-to-floor voltage is 150 kV. The extrapolated voltage levels at normal working heights are lower. The potential between the air duct and the electro-static ground is estimated to be 4 kV. A secondary goal was to compare results with Sandia as a quality control check. While the estimated maximum ceiling-to-floor voltages are similar, the comparison was limited by high-frequency resonances on the drive wire.
Taxonomia de hyphomycetes, un tributo a nuestra paciencia

Se analiza y comenta la problematica actual existente en la clasificacion de los Hyphomycetes, donde aun predomina el heterogeneo criterio personal del taxonomo feneticista, abarcando los siguientes temas tales como: concepto de especie, taxa infraespecificos, conidiogenesis, conidioforo, conidios, conidiomata, pleoanamorjismo, etc. Se concluye con un enfoque moderno que destaca la frecuente aplicacion en la literatura de las nuevas herramientas taxonomicas, en especial, la biologia molecular a nivel de secuencias de DNA y RNA, situacion que ayudara con segundad a dilucidar en el futuro las relaciones filogeneticas de estos hongos
Calcification of primary human osteoblast cultures under flow conditions using polycaprolactone scaffolds for intravascular applications.

Total atherosclerotic occlusion is a leading cause of death. Recent animal models of this disease are devoid of cell-mediated calcification and arteries are often not occluded gradually. This study is part of a project with the objective of developing a new model featuring the above two characteristics, using a tissue-engineering scaffold. The amount and distribution of calcium deposits in primary human osteoblast (HOB) cultures on polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds under flow conditions were investigated. HOBs were cultured on PCL scaffolds with TGF-β1 loadings of 0 (control), 5 and 50 ng. HOB–PCL constructs were cultured in spinner flasks. Under flow conditions, cell numbers present in HOB cultures on PCL scaffolds increased from day 7 to day 14, and most calcification was induced at day 21. TGF-β1 loadings of 5 and 50 ng did not show a significant difference in ALP activity, cell numbers and amount of calcium deposited in HOB cultures, but calcium staining showed that 50 ng TGF-β1 had higher calcium deposited on both days 21 and 28 under flow conditions compared with 5 ng of loading. Amount of calcium deposited by HOBs on day 28 showed a decrease from their levels on day 21. PCL degradation may be a factor contributing to this loss. The results indicate that cell-induced calcification can be achieved on PCL scaffolds under flow conditions. In conclusion, TGFβ1–HOB loaded PCL can be applied to create a model for total atherosclerotic occlusion with cell-deposited calcium in animal arteries. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Immunologic functions of isolated human lymphocyte subpopulations. V. Isolation and functional analysis of a surface Ig negative, E rosette negative subset.

Abstract Utilizing column immunoabsorbent anti-Fab chromatography and rosette depletion techniques three distinct subsets of human lymphocytes were isolated: (1) T cells which are surface Ig− and E rosette positive, (2) B cells which are Ig+, E rosette negative, and (3) a Null cell population which is both Ig− and E rosette negative. All three populations were analyzed with respect to a variety of assays of cell mediated immunity. The Ig−, E rosette negative (Null cell) population exhibited close functional similarities to B lymphocytes. Both responded poorly to plant lectins, did not proliferate in response to soluble or cell surface antigens, and were not active in cell mediated lympholysis. However, both were efficient effector cells in antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity. T lymphocytes, in contrast, were highly active in proliferative responses to plant lectins and antigens, were efficient in cell mediated lympholysis, but were not active effector cells in antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity. These studies support the view that the human Ig−, E rosette negative cells represent a subset of B lymphocytes.
New studies address urgent need for early COPD diagnosis

New approaches to COPD diagnosis are being developed that can identify the disease not only earlier, but more cheaply as well, according to dramatic studies presented November 6 and 7 at the 2 nd World Conference of COPD Patient Organizations in Shanghai, China (Figure 1). The conference, organized by the International COPD Coalition, brought together representatives of COPD patient groups throughout the world around the theme “Improve COPD Patients’ Lives.”
Residual α–Si3N4 in O′ Crystals in CeO2‐Doped O′+β′ SiAlON Ceramics

The microstructure of a pressureless sintered (1,605 C, 90 min) O[prime] + [beta][prime] SiAlON ceramic with CeO[sub 2] doping has been investigated. It is duplex in nature, consisting of very large, slablike elongated O[prime] grains (20--30 [mu]m long), and a continuous matrix of small rodlike [beta][prime] grains (< 1.0 [mu]m in length). Many [alpha]-Si[sub 3]N[sub 4] inclusions (0.1--0.5 [mu]m in size) were found in the large O[prime] grains. CeO[sub 2]-doping and its high doping level as well as the high Al[sub 2]O[sub 3] concentration were thought to be the main reasons for accelerating the reaction between the [alpha]-Si[sub 3]N[sub 4] and the Si-Al-O-N liquid to precipitate O[prime]-SiAlON. This caused the supergrowth of O[prime] grains. The rapid growth of O[prime] crystals isolated the remnant [alpha]-Si[sub 3]N[sub 4] from the reacting liquid, resulting in a delay in the [alpha] [yields] [beta]-Si[sub 3]N[sub 4] transformation. The large O[prime] grains and the [alpha]-Si[sub 3]N[sub 4] inclusions have a pronounced effect on the strength degradation of O[prime] + [beta][prime] ceramics.
Complex decision boundaries using tree connected single layer nets

The neural tree classifier architecture presented is a combination of two pattern recognition methods: tree classifiers and neural networks. Multilayer neural networks have the ability to create nonlinear classification boundaries when used for pattern recognition. These nets suffer from slow training times as well as high computational requirements. Single-layer nets do not have these disadvantages but cannot provide nonlinear decision boundaries. The authors present an approach that uses a series of single layer nets arranged in a binary-tree structure to approximate the performance of multilayer nets. By properly dividing the input space into tree-controlled clusters and assigning a single layer net to each cluster this approach can handle any classification task where multilayer nets have previously been used. >
EXPERIMENTAL INFECTION OF THE EASTERN CHIPMUNK (TAMIAS STRIATUS) WITH THE LYME DISEASE SPIROCHETE (BORRELIA BURGDORFERI)

Lyme disease, caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, is endemic in the northeast, north-central, and Pacific coastal states of the United States. The eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) is found throughout the disease-enzootic regions except along the Pacific coast, and may serve as an important reservoir host in some locations. To characterize their potential as a host, 11 adult chipmunks were inoculated with 105 spirochetes from strains of B. burgdorferi isolated from Peromyscus leucopus and Ixodes scapularis in a hyperendemic area of Westchester County, New York (USA). All inoculated chipmunks became infected. Spirochetemias were detected by isolating spirochetes in Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly media in eight of eight chipmunks, and lasted for 2 to 5 days. Spirochetes were isolated from the ears of all animals, starting at 1 wk and for ≤4 mo, and from various internal organs at 133 days post-inoculation. Laboratory-reared larval I. scapularis ticks became infected with spirochetes after feeding on two...
Nano materials for microelectronic and photonic packaging

This paper addresses the state-of-the-art nanoscience and technology regarding next generation high density microelectronics and photonics packaging applications, including carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for electrical/thermal devices, and molecular wires for electrical interconnects, etc.
Comparative magnetic-field imaging, electric-field imaging, and scanning Auger microscopy study of metal–matrix composites

Abstract X-ray photoelectron emission microscopy (XPEEM) provides valuable chemical information at the micron or submicron level and has been successfully applied to a wide range of materials. We have initiated a study of metal–matrix composites (MMCs) using this technique, aimed at understanding the interfacial interactions that occur between the metal matrix and the ceramic reinforcement. The experiments have been performed on Ti/SiC (fiber) MMCs and SiC fibers. We have found that the method of preparing the sample plays a critical role in understanding the results of the measurements. Samples prepared by polishing and sputtering were examined using an electric-field imaging photoelectron microscope (EFIPM), and fractured samples were studied with a magnetic-field imaging photoelectron microscope (MFIPM). While the EFIPM exhibited exellent elemental contrast and resolution, the data were flawed by artifacts introduced by both the polishing and the sputtering. Although the spatial resolution of the MFIPM was lower than the EFIPM, the ability to study fractured samples greatly facilitated interpretation of the data, which revealed the intrinsic chemical states of the sample. These results will be interpreted in terms of the impact of sample preparation on the application of XPEEM to MMCs and other complex systems.