cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intrinsic Functional Network Connectivity Is Associated With Clinical Symptoms and Cognition in Late-Life Depression

Abstract Background Late-life depression (LLD) has been associated with alterations in intrinsic functional networks, best characterized in the default mode network (DMN), cognitive control network (CCN), and salience network. However, these findings often derive from small samples, and it is not well understood how network findings relate to clinical and cognitive symptomatology. Methods We studied 100 older adults (n = 79 with LLD, n = 21 nondepressed) and collected resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, clinical measures of depression, and performance on cognitive tests. We selected canonical network regions for each intrinsic functional network (DMN, CCN, and salience network) as seeds in seed-to-voxel analysis. We compared connectivity between the depressed and nondepressed groups and correlated connectivity with depression severity among depressed subjects. We then investigated whether the observed connectivity findings were associated with greater severity of common neuropsychiatric symptoms or poorer cognitive performance. Results LLD was characterized by decreased DMN connectivity to the frontal pole, a CCN region (Wald χ21 = 22.33, p 20.14, p 4.65, p 4.29, p Conclusions LLD is characterized by differences in DMN connectivity, while CCN connectivity is associated with LLD symptomology, including poorer performance in several cognitive domains.
Concurrent detection of lysosome and tissue transglutaminase activation in relation to cell cycle position during apoptosis induced by different anticancer drugs.

Described is the new cytometric approach do detect either stimulation or a collapse of lysosomal proton pump (lysosomes rupture) combined with activation of transglutaminase 2 (TG2) during induction of apoptosis. Apoptosis of human lymphoblastoid TK6 cells was induced by combination of 2-deoxyglucose with the isoquinoline alkaloid berberine, by DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor camptothecin, its analog topotecan, topoisomerase II inhibitors etoposide or mitoxantrone, as well as by the cytotoxic anticancer ribonuclease ranpirnase (onconase). Activity of the proton pump of lysosomes was assessed by measuring entrapment and accumulation of the basic fluorochrome acridine orange (AO) resulting in its metachromatic red luminescence (F>640 ) within these organelles. Activation of TG2 was detected in the same cell subpopulation by the evidence of crosslinking of cytoplasmic proteins revealed by the increased intensity of the side light scatter (SSC) as well as following cell lysis by detergent, by its red fluorescence after staining by sulforhodamine 101. Because at low AO concentration nuclear DNA of the lysed cells was stoichiometrically stained green (F530 ) its quantity provided information on effects of the drug treatments on cell cycle in relation to activation of TG2. The data reveal that activation of lysosomal proton pump was evident in subpopulations of cells treated with 2-deoxyglucose plus berberine, topotecan, etoposide and mitoxantrone but not with ranpirnase. The collapse of lysosomal proton pump possibly reporting rupture of these organelles was observed in definite cell subpopulations after treatment with each of the studied drugs. Because regardless of the inducer of apoptosis TG2 activation invariably was correlated with lysosomes rupture it is likely that it was triggered by calcium ions or protons released from the ruptured lysosomes. This new methodological approach offers the means to investigate mechanisms and factors affecting autophagic lysosomes proton pump activity vis-a-vis TG2 activation that are common in several pathological states. © 2019 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.
Young, Thomas (1773–1829)

Thomas Young (1773–1829) was ‘eminent in almost every department of human learning,’ according to his memorial in Westminster Abbey. Best known for experiments supporting the wave theory of light, he also lectured and wrote on acoustics, gravitation, medicine, measurement, astronomy, tides, climate, botany, zoology, and all aspects of physics. In his spare time, he worked on deciphering the Rosetta Stone. He was the first to note a link between the demotic (enchorial) script and hieroglyphics and to discover that demotic was partially phonetic. He assigned correct phonetic values to five demotic signs, thereby unlocking the Stone for future scholars.
Dual-Satellite Geolocation With Ephemeris Correction and Uncertainty Mapping

In this paper, we demonstrate that the uncertainty of the dual-satellite ephemeris must be included in order for the geolocation covariance to be accurate. Without the inclusion of this additional error source, the covariance is no longer consistent with the true uncertainty and can convey misleading results. The larger the uncertainty associated with the dual-satellite ephemeris the larger the geolocation covariance becomes. Therefore, we first demonstrate a technique for improving the dual-satellite ephemeris knowledge by using calibrator transmitters for orbit determination. Second, we derive a consider batch filter, which computes the best estimate of position of the unknown radio frequency source while taking into account the dual-satellite ephemeris uncertainty. An algorithm is also proposed for adding a probabilistic altitude constraint, which significantly reduces the solution error. Finally, we briefly touch upon a technique that allows for the dual-satellite ephemeris and source position to be estimated simultaneously thereby maintaining the correlations and optimality. All algorithms introduced have since been applied to real-world data and conveys actual capabilities rather than a theoretical approach alone.
Perturbed Whole-body Vitamin a Kinetics Induced by Iron Deficiency Is Corrected by Dietary Iron Repletion in Rats (OR05-03-19)

We investigated the impact of iron repletion on vitamin A (VA) metabolism and kinetics in iron-deficient rats, hypothesizing that iron repletion can remove the inhibitory effect of iron deficiency on hepatic mobilization of VA and improve the hyporetinolemia of iron deficiency. At weaning, rats were divided into two groups and fed either a VA-marginal diet (control group, CN) with normal levels of iron (37 ppm) or the same diet with reduced iron (5 ppm, iron deficient group, ID-). After 5 weeks, n = 4 rats from each group were euthanized for baseline measurements, and the remaining rats (n = 6 CN, n = 10 ID-) received an i.v. dose of ³H-labeled retinol in an emulsion as tracer to initiate the kinetic study. On day 21 after dosing, half of the ID- rats were switched to the CN diet, thus creating an iron repletion group (ID+). Serial blood samples were collected from each rat at 34 preselected time points after dosing. On day 92, all rats were euthanized. Iron and VA status were determined, and model-based compartmental analysis was applied to the plasma tracer data to develop VA kinetic models for rats from all groups. Rats fed the iron-deficient diet developed iron deficiency, and exhibited reduced plasma retinol (0.67 vs. 1.19 µmol/L), with higher liver VA (265 vs. 187 nmol) at the start of the kinetic study, suggesting impaired hepatic VA mobilization. At the study conclusion, ID+ rats had recovered from iron deficiency, as indicated by hematological indices including hemoglobin, hematocrit, and serum iron. While liver VA storage was more than doubled in ID- rats (456 nmol) vs. CN rats (190 nmol), hyporetinolemia was maintained in ID- rats. In contrast, VA in the liver of ID+ rats was mobilized, reflected by the reduced liver VA mass (276 nmol) and increased hepatic output of VA into plasma based on predictions of the compartmental model, and plasma retinol in ID + rats returned to normal. Iron repletion restored plasma retinol concentrations and increased liver vitamin A mobilization in iron deficient rats. National Institutes of Health.
IGBT Applications: Power Transmission

High-voltage DC power transmission over long distances has been used for a long time. During the last 10 years, the current source thyristor-based topology has been replaced with voltage source insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT)-based topology due to the availability of modules with sufficient ratings. For the transmission of power over shorter distances, high-voltage AC power transmission is preferable. These networks require static VAR compensation performed by using IGBTs to inject reactive power into the network. The SVC Light concept using IGBTs is described. The transmission of power from offshore wind farms using IGBTs is also discussed here. Premium quality power parks that use IGBT-enabled UPS systems are creating reliable locations for power sensitive industries such as semiconductor manufacturing plants.
Development of a Strategy for Linear-Selective Cu-Catalyzed Reductive Coupling of Ketones and Allenes for the Synthesis of Chiral γ-Hydroxyaldehyde Equivalents

We report the development of a stereoselective method for the allylation of ketones utilizing N-substituted allyl equivalents generated from a chiral allenamide. By choice of the appropriate ligand for the Cu-catalyst, high linear selectivity can be obtained with good diastereocontrol. This methodology allows access to chiral γ-hydroxyaldehyde equivalents that were applied in the synthesis of chiral γ-lactones and 2,5-disubstitued tetrahydrofurans.
Cognitive behavioral therapy in functional tremor: A promising treatment approach.

In a movement disorder clinic, 2% to 20% of patients may present with functional movement disorders (FMDs). Tremor is the most common, accounting for 50% of patients, while functional dystonia is the second most common presentation of FMDs.1 Quality of life is considerably impaired compared to that of patients with Parkinson disease.1 The clinical diagnosis is based on an algorithm including patient history, suggestive positive phenomenologic features,2 and additional electrophysiologic findings.3 FMDs are difficult to treat, but therapy should be initiated early to improve prognosis. There are only a few studies: a couple studies on motor rehabilitation with physiotherapy in a historical cohort including mixed functional movement disorders,4,5 a pilot study exploring a retrainment/biofeedback program in 10 patients with tremor,6 and a retrospective follow-up study of patients with mixed FMD treated at a specialized multidisciplinary inpatient program.7
BCL6 BTB-specific inhibition via FX1 treatment reduces Tfh cells and reverses lymphoid follicle hyperplasia in Indian rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta)

Background The BTB domain of B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) protein was identified as a therapeutic target for B-cell lymphoma. This study compared the pharmacokinetics (PK) of the BCL6 BTB inhibitor (FX1) between mice and macaques, as well as evaluating its lymphoid suppressive effect in uninfected macaques with lymphoid hyperplasia. Materials and methods Eight uninfected adult Indian rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) were used in the study, four animals carrying lymphoid tissue hyperplasia. Plasma FX1 levels were measured by HPLC-MS/MS. Lymph node biopsies were used for H&E and immunohistochemistry staining, as well as mononuclear cell isolation for flow cytometry analysis. Results Inhibition of the BCL6 BTB domain with FX1 led to a reduction in the frequency of GC, Tfh CD4+ , and Tfh precursor cells, as well as resolving lymphoid hyperplasia, in rhesus macaques. Conclusions B-cell lymphoma 6 inhibition may represent a novel strategy to reduce hyperplastic lymphoid B-cell follicles and decrease Tfh cells.
Open surgical approach for infected mesenteric pseudocyst presenting as lifelong, migratory abdominal pain-A case report.

Abstract Introduction Mesenteric psuedocysts are rare tumors of the gastrointestinal mesentery that are seldom symptomatic. Although these benign tumors are most commonly found incidentally during work-up for other pathology, they can be troublesome in select patients based off size, location and risk of malignant transformation. This case is reported in accordance with SCARE Criteria [ 1 ]. Presentation of case A 24 year-old-male presents with life-long migratory abdominal pain presents with a one week history of acute pain associated with nausea. Computed tomography revealed free fluid in the pelvis and a thin-walled mesenteric cyst within the left, mid-abdominal mesentery measuring approximately 4.3 × 4.0 × 4.0 cm. The patient was admitted for resuscitation and planned delayed operative intervention. Discussion The patient underwent complete open enucleation secondary to location and in an attempt to limit injuries to or resection of small bowel. Pathological analysis revealed a mesenteric cyst with fluid culture positive for Propionibacterium acnes without true cystic wall consistent with an infected mesenteric pseudocyst. These lesions are difficult to diagnose secondary to varied presentation and lack of pathognomonic clinical, laboratory and imaging findings. Mesenteric pseudocyst have a low rate of recurrence after removal; however, surgical management is mandated due to risks of malignant transformation. Conclusion This is a rare case of a mesenteric pseudocyst of small size presenting with lifelong abdominal pain secondary to its location near the root of the mesentery and inflammatory reaction secondary to infection. It is important to maintain a high index of suspicion for mesenteric cyst as many complications may result if misdiagnosed or without proper surgical management.
The Effects of Scenic Picture Prompts on Variability During the Acquisition of Intraverbal Categorization for Children With Autism.

Researchers have demonstrated the efficacy of picture prompts on the acquisition of intraverbals (Coon & Miguel in Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 45, 657–666, 2012; Goldsmith, LeBlanc, & Sautter in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 1, 1–13, 2007; Ingvarsson & Hollobaugh in Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 44, 659–664, 2011; Ingvarsson & Le in The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, 27, 75–93, 2011; Miguel, Petursdottir, & Carr in The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, 21, 27–41, 2005; Partington & Bailey in The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, 11, 9–18, 1993). However, no one (to our knowledge) has determined the effects of picture prompts on the variability of responding during intraverbal categorization. We evaluated the use of a scenic picture prompt on response variability during the acquisition of intraverbal categorization with 4 children diagnosed with autism. All children mastered the task and initially demonstrated varied responding. However, responding eventually became invariant for all children. These results demonstrate the efficacy of a scenic picture prompt for teaching children with autism intraverbal categorization and for producing initial response variability. Additional research should be conducted to determine teaching procedures that promote continued varied responding for individuals with autism.
Estimating individual-level average treatment effects: Challenges, modeling approaches, and practical applications

Abstract Good prediction models are practical tools that take advantage of the heterogeneity of individual traits in a population, exploiting the natural laws that connect them. But if generating a useful approximation for the natural processes linking the present to the future is helpful for understanding nature, often the ultimate goal of the applied scientist is to manipulate it to control an outcome in desirable ways. Just as we may expect some members of a population to have better outcomes than others following an infection, or be less likely to fall into poverty following an economic recession compared with others, we may also expect heterogeneity in the causal effect of taking some action, or treatment, to manipulate these outcomes. The causal effect is the difference between the outcome that would have occurred had the treatment been taken, and the outcome had a treatment not been taken. It may be very useful in the applied sciences to be able to distinguish between those members who benefit from a treatment and those who may be harmed, or between members benefitting to a great degree from those who benefit little. In this chapter we review the highly active literature merging ideas from supervised prediction modeling and causal inference to estimate the causal treatment effect at the individual level, called the conditional average treatment effect (CATE). After brief reviews of supervised statistical learning and the assumptions necessary for estimation and inference on causal treatment effects, we review a set of challenges inherent to the CATE estimation problem, and we demonstrate empirically how two naive approaches can fail. We then review the current state of the literature regarding model training and selection strategies tailored to CATE estimation. Finally, we cover some higher-level applications of CATE models that target specific features of the CATE function, such as the rank order of the true CATEs among the individuals in a dataset and identification of a subgroup of treatment responders.
Targeting galectin-3 with a high-affinity antibody for inhibition of high-grade serous ovarian cancer and other MUC16/CA-125-expressing malignancies.

The lectin, galectin-3 (Gal3), has been implicated in a variety of inflammatory and oncogenic processes, including tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. The interactions of Gal3 and MUC16 represent a potential targetable pathway for the treatment of MUC16-expressing malignancies. We found that the silencing of Gal3 in MUC16-expressing breast and ovarian cancer cells in vitro inhibited tumor cell invasion and led to attenuated tumor growth in murine models. We therefore developed an inhibitory murine monoclonal anti–Gal3 carbohydrate-binding domain antibody, 14D11, which bound human and mouse Gal3 but did not bind human Galectins-1, -7, -8 or -9. Competition studies and a docking model suggest that the 14D11 antibody competes with lactose for the carbohydrate binding pocket of Gal3. In MUC16-expressing cancer cells, 14D11 treatment blocked AKT and ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and led to inhibition of cancer cell Matrigel invasion. Finally, in experimental animal tumor models, 14D11 treatment led to prolongation of overall survival in animals bearing flank tumors, and retarded lung specific metastatic growth by MUC16 expressing breast cancer cells. Our results provide evidence that antibody based Gal3 blockade may be a viable therapeutic strategy in patients with MUC16-expressing tumors, supporting further development of human blocking antibodies against Gal3 as potential cancer therapeutics.
Does stress attenuate motivation for healthful eating in pregnancy and postpartum

Abstract Despite high motivation for healthful eating during pregnancy, maternal diet quality is inadequate. During pregnancy, women may relax effortful control over eating to reduce stress; thus, stress may override motivation to eat healthfully. This secondary analysis of data from the Pregnancy Eating Attributes Study longitudinal cohort investigated associations of motivation for healthful eating and perceived stress with diet quality during pregnancy (n = 365) and postpartum (n = 266), and investigated whether stress modifies associations of motivation with diet quality. Women (Mage = 31.3; gestational age ≤ 12 weeks) were recruited from the Chapel Hill, North Carolina area and completed multiple 24-h diet recalls (once each trimester of pregnancy, and at 4–6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year postpartum) and validated measures of perceived stress and motivation for healthful eating (autonomous and controlled). Hierarchical multiple regressions tested associations of diet quality (Healthy Eating Index-2015) with stress, motivation, and their interactions. Additionally, themes extracted from previously-analyzed focus groups conducted with a subsample of participants were re-examined for content relevant to stress, motivation, and diet. Pregnancy and postpartum diet quality was positively associated with autonomous motivation, but was unassociated with controlled motivation and stress. Interaction terms did not appreciably improve model fit. Focus group participants described both internal and external forces contributing to their motivation for healthy eating during pregnancy and described the impact of stress on eating behaviors through amplification of food cravings. Future research is needed to identify influences on maternal motivation for healthful eating.
POEMS syndrome: 2021 Update on diagnosis, risk-stratification, and management

Disease overview POEMS syndrome is a paraneoplastic syndrome due to an underlying plasma cell neoplasm. The major criteria for the syndrome are polyradiculoneuropathy, clonal plasma cell disorder (PCD), sclerotic bone lesions, elevated vascular endothelial growth factor, and the presence of Castleman disease. Minor features include organomegaly, endocrinopathy, characteristic skin changes, papilledema, extravascular volume overload, and thrombocytosis. Diagnosis The diagnosis of POEMS syndrome is made with three of the major criteria, two of which must include polyradiculoneuropathy and clonal plasma cell disorder, and at least one of the minor criteria. Risk stratification Because the pathogenesis of the syndrome is not well understood, risk stratification is limited to clinical phenotype rather than specific molecular markers. Risk factors include low serum albumin, age, pleural effusion, pulmonary hypertension, and reduced eGFR. Risk-adapted therapy For those patients with a dominant plasmacytoma, first line therapy is irradiation. Patients with diffuse sclerotic lesions or disseminated bone marrow involvement and for those who have progression of their disease 3-6 months after completing radiation therapy should receive systemic therapy. Corticosteroids are temporizing, but alkylators are the mainstay of treatment, either in the form of low dose conventional therapy or high dose with stem cell transplantation. Lenalidomide shows promise with manageable toxicity. Thalidomide and bortezomib also have activity, but their benefit needs to be weighed against their risk of exacerbating the peripheral neuropathy. Prompt recognition and institution of both supportive care measures and therapy directed against the plasma cell result in the best outcomes.
First report of sexually transmitted primary cytomegalovirus proctocolitis in a renal transplant recipient

A 21-year-old man with a history of psychiatric comorbidities, primary vesicoureteral reflux, recurrent pyelonephritis requiring bilateral native nephrectomies, and deceased-donor kidney transplantation at age two experienced few infectious complications for several years after transplant. Both the donor and recipient were seronegative for cytomegalovirus at the time of transplant. A few days after engaging in his first lifetime unprotected sexual contact, receptive anal intercourse with a casual partner, the patient presented to an outside hospital emergency room with burning perianal pain. He denied any history of similar symptoms in the past and also denied any gastrointestinal or systemic symptoms at that time. He reported no previous sexual partners. A superficial swab of perianal ulcers confirmed a diagnosis of HSV-2 by immunofluorescence assay, and the patient was treated with a 10-day course of valacyclovir. Although the patient experienced some improvement in symptoms, residual ulcerative changes persisted at the end of his valacyclovir course, and his painful perianal lesions progressed soon after stopping antiviral therapy. Three weeks later, the patient experienced the new onset of malaise, intermittent fever, morbilliform rash, abdominal discomfort, and voluminous, watery, non-hemorrhagic diarrhea.
“I’m generally just a White European mutt”: Communication strategies for interpreting and sharing DNA-based ancestry test results

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) DNA tests that trace ancestral heritage are a popular way for U.S. Americans to discover information about their ethnic history. To address this phenomenon, we analyze inte...
The Case of the Serial Comma: What Can Plain-Language Drafting Tell Legislative Drafters?

Little commas provoke mighty controversies. The “$10 million serial comma” case explored the financial implications of a missing serial comma. This article foregoes an argument on the merits to examine instead the serial comma and other precepts of plain language drafting as analytical tools that deepen drafters’ understanding of the texts they are drafting. Plain language techniques don’t just improve reader comprehension; they also illuminate meaning for drafters and policymakers. This article suggests that recourse to the serial comma, if-then tables, and the linked techniques of tabulation and parallelism will help drafters understand the intended meaning of policymakers while an instrument is still in the drafting phase, when changes can easily be made without costly consequences.
Withdrawal from Afghanistan Marks Guantanamo's Endpoint

For two decades following the 9/11 attacks, U.S. forces engaged in combat in Afghanistan and used implied congressional authorization of the “fundamental incidents” of war to conduct detention and military trials at Guantanamo Bay. Conflict in Afghanistan has ended, but detention and military commissions proceedings continue absent political will to end them. But that is no longer an option – as the Supreme Court held in Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, detention authority ends at the close of “active hostilities.” And as it held in Hamdan two years later, military commissions lack normal constitutional authority, depending on the availability of congressional and executive wartime powers for their existence. These trials, too, cannot legitimately continue post-conflict. While pundits continue to propose winding down Guantanamo by seeking detainee transfers with “security assurances,” the law of war mandates prompt repatriation. There is no “bad dude” exception based on general threat perceptions – only an actual criminal sentence or pending charges justify delay. Both the law of war and the Constitution require that the U.S. must now charge detainees in federal courts, extradite them to another country for prosecution, or promptly repatriate them. The Article provides recommended dispositions for the thirty-nine detainees remaining at Guantanamo at the time of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan consistent with residual law of war mandates. It concludes by arguing that this outcome actually serves larger overall U.S. national interests – Guantanamo’s fiscal, legal, moral, and political costs have long outweighed any benefits.
X-Ray Diffraction and Reflectivity

A concise review of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and reflectivity (XRR) analytical methods is presented. Basic concepts required for proper data acquisition and interpretation are introduced with several graphs and diagrams: X-ray scattering and diffraction processes, the concept of atomic interspacing d, Bragg’s law, reciprocal space and Ewald sphere. The key features from conventional XRD results are discussed, in combination with a review of modern instrument configurations, proper choice of optics and types of sample and detector scans. Powder diffraction analysis methods are presented by using a walk-through practical example: search/match phase analysis, preferred orientation, crystallite/grain size estimation, structure determination and Rietveld refinement method. Extensive discussion of thin film analysis by XRD and XRR is presented with focus on texture, lattice mismatch, strain relaxation and defects. High resolution reciprocal lattice mapping is presented in detail including discussion of a complex layered structure. Finally, XRR methods are presented with focus on thin film, density and roughness determination. Strength and limitations of each method are presented in comparison with competing analytical techniques.
Osteochondral defects of the upper extremity treated with particulated juvenile cartilage transfer

We present the novel use of particulated juvenile cartilage transfer in the upper extremity. Our patient is an active duty solider with an osteochondral defect (OCD) of the capitellum that he sustained after an improvised explosive devise injury to his left elbow.
The Epidemiology and Immunology of Influenza Viruses

Currently, 16 receptor binding hemagglutinin protein (HA) and 9 receptor destroying neuraminidase protein (NA) antigens have been described for type A influenza, which have the potential of combining to give rise to distinct virus subtypes (e.g., H1N1, H3N2, H5N1, etc.). This chapter provides an overview of past and present pandemics and epidemics of influenza virus and the most significant findings about how those viruses evade immunity in humans. One particular ability of influenza viruses is that they undergo genetic changes through shift and drift. Seasonal influenza viruses predominantly infect children and the older population. Currently, there are two types of antiviral drugs available for treatment of IAV: the so-called neuraminidase inhibitors and the adamantanes, which interfere with the M2 protein of the virus, thereby preventing the release of infectious viral nucleic acid into the host cell by interfering with the function of the transmembrane domain of the viral M2 protein. Due to the high rate of infection and the massive vaccination programs in place around the world, it is likely that the virus strain will undergo antigenic drift in the next few years due to preexisting immunity. Finally, the current nomenclature and pandemic phase category of the WHO does not allow for an assessment of the severity of the pandemic virus. It would be beneficial to incorporate a measure for severity or pathogenicity of a virus into the current system in order to more accurately and more clearly inform the public of the status of a pandemic strain.
Metabolic control of dendritic cell activation and function: Recent advances and clinical implications

Dendritic cells (DCs) are key regulators of both immunity and tolerance by controlling activation and polarization of effector T helper cell and regulatory T cell responses. Therefore, there is a major focus on developing approaches to manipulate DC function for immunotherapy. It is well known that changes in cellular activation are coupled to profound changes in cellular metabolism. Over the past decade there is a growing appreciation that these metabolic changes also underlie the capacity of immune cells to perform particular functions. This has led to the concept that the manipulation of cellular metabolism can be used to shape innate and adaptive immune responses. While most of our understanding in this area has been gained from studies with T cells and macrophages, evidence is emerging that the activation and function of DCs are also dictated by the type of metabolism these cells commit to. We here discuss these new insights and explore whether targeting of metabolic pathways in DCs could hold promise as a novel approach to manipulate the functional properties of DCs for clinical purposes.
JML Runtime Assertion Checking: Improved Error Reporting and Efficiency Using Strong Validity

The Java Modeling Language (JML) recently switched to an assertion semantics based on "strong validity" in which an assertion is taken to be valid precisely when it is defined and true. Elsewhere we have shared our positive experiences with the realization and use of this new semantics in the context of ESC/Java2. In this paper, we describe the challenges faced by and the redesign required for the implementation of the new semantics in the JML Runtime Assertion Checker (RAC) compiler. Not only is the new semantics effective at helping developers identify formerly undetected errors in specifications, we also demonstrate how the realization of the new semantics is more efficient--resulting in more compact instrumented code that runs slightly faster. More importantly, under the new semantics, the JML RAC can now compile sizeable JML annotated Java programs (like ESC/Java2) which it was unable to compile before.
Project Selection under Risk

Three methods for the selection of construction projects are presented including, weighted average cost of capital, portfolio approach, and market model approach. The weighted average cost of capital fails to consider the individual risk of projects, therefore modification is required. A new portfolio analysis and its implication in construction projects is presented. Standard deviation and expected value of net present value are considered to be an appropriate approach in portfolio analysis. Difficulty arises in evaluating the coefficient of correlation when the number of projects increases, and utility function of the decision maker that can be derived only under restricted conditions. The market model approach considers company, industry, and market related factors and in conjunction with experienced managerial judgment allows the most appropriate selection of projects. This model eliminated some of the difficulties of the portfolio approach.
Ruling by Statute: How Uncertainty and Vote Buying Shape Lawmaking

Part I. Introduction: 1. Introduction Part II. Theoretical Foundations: 2. On statutory policy making 3. A model of statutory policy making under uncertainty Part III. Empirical Implications: 4. Measuring chief executives' statutory performance 5. Patterns of statutory policy making around the world 6. Political prowess or 'lady luck'? 7. Buying legislators 8. Electoral rules and lawmaking Part IV. Normative Implications: 9. The political gap Part V. Conclusions: 10. Conclusions.
How well can a T-cell epitope replace its parent carrier protein? A dose-response study.

Purpose. This work examines the effectiveness of synthetic peptide immunogens derived from immunodominant T-cell epitopes as replacements for their intact parent protein in vaccines.
Aqui No Hay Oportunidades: Latino Segregation and the Keys to Political Participation

For decades, political scientists, sociologists, and historians have tracked the perils of residential segregation in the African American community. The consensus is clear: segregation has hampered African American socioeconomic mobility and social integration. Given the strong relationship between socioeconomic status and political participation, segregation, therefore, is at least partially responsible for low levels of political participation within the black community. Over the last 20 years, Latinos have started to experience segregation rates similar to African Americans. I argue that the detriments of residential segregation are not isolated to the black community and present similar barriers to Latinos. This finding has important political implications, indicating that Latinos are unlikely to realize their full potential at the ballot box because of the socioeconomic barriers of segregation. Related Articles:“English Proficiency and Latino Participation in U.S. Elections.” (2011) http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2011.00302.x/abstract“Racial Self-Identification and Latino Political Engagement.” (2009) http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2009.00220.x/abstract“Boosting Latino and Black Political Participation.” (2005) http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2005.tb00803.x/abstract Durante decadas politologos, sociologos e historiadores han dado seguimiento a las consecuencias de la segregacion residencial en la comunidad Afroamericana. El consenso es claro: la segregacion ha danado la movilidad socioeconomica de las comunidades afroamericanas y su integracion social. Dada la estrecha relacion entre el estatus socioeconomico y la participacion politica, la segregacion es por lo tanto parcialmente responsable por los bajos niveles de participacion politica dentro de dicha comunidad. Durante los ultimos 20 anos, los inmigrantes latinos en los Estados Unidos han experimentado niveles de segregacion similares a aquellos presentes hacia las personas de color. Sostengo que las consecuencias de la segregacion no son un caso unico de la comunidad afroamericana sino que tambien presentan las mismas barreras para la comunidad latinoamericana en Estados Unidos. Este hallazgo tiene implicaciones politicas de gran importancia, indicando que los latinos tienen pocas posibilidades de alcanzar su maximo potencial en las casillas electorales debido a las barreras socioeconomicas de la segregacion.
Informed Consent in Psychotherapy

Abstract One way to help alleviate client anxiety and reduce the amount of miscommunication regarding the process of therapy can be through the use of therapist disclosure statements. The purpose of using disclosure statements in therapy is to educate clients so that they may give informed consent to the therapeutic process. The disclosure statement: (1) helps the therapist maintain ethical practice by informing the client of procedures and expectations of therapy, and (2) protects both the therapist and client from misunderstandings that may arise from lack of education about therapy itself.
A Review of Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics Techniques to Access Extended Spatial and Temporal Scales in Biomolecular Simulations

Abstract The study of very large biomolecular systems over extended spatial and temporal scales is being accomplished through the use of coarse-grained (CG) models. The successes of several CG models, including MARTINI and CMM-CG, and their implementation in current molecular dynamics (MD) software are discussed. In addition, we highlight multiscale CG and mixed all-atom‐CG models for MD simulations. The overall appeal of CG methods is the accessibility of broader temporal and spatial scales for biomolecular and polymer systems. However, care must be taken to fully understand the advantages, assumptions, and limitations of each method. Not all CG models are created equally, and care must be taken when preparing the system and choosing the method of coarse-graining. It is the aim of this review to provide a background and guide to readers as they think about coarse-graining. An outlook to the future of CG simulations is presented in the summary as well as a specific example of how we plan on using CG techniques to explore extended dynamics of membrane-bound transporter proteins.
Connectivity and Variability: Metrics for Riverine Floodplain Backwater Rehabilitation

Stream Restorat Approaches, Anal Geophysical Mon This paper is not s Published in 2011 10.1029/2010GM The importance of floodplain aquatic habitats that are seasonally or periodically connected to the main channel (backwaters) within lowland riverine ecosystems is well established. However, backwaters are becoming rare as development is transforming floodplain landscapes. Therefore, rehabilitation, protection, and management of riverine backwaters are becoming increasingly common, with annual expenditures in the millions of dollars. Even with the increasing number of projects, general criteria for selecting restoration goals and evaluating project outcomes are lacking. To address this need, Kondolf et al. (2006) proposed an approach for evaluating river restorations that is based on assigning a position to the system in a four-dimensional space that represents hydrologic temporal variability on one axis and connectivity in the three spatial dimensions on the remaining three axes. Use of the Kondolf approach for evaluating restoration of a backwater adjacent to a medium-sized river in northern Mississippi is presented as a case study, in which nearby degraded and less impacted backwaters were used as references. The restoration project resulted in a reduction in main-channel connectivity and lower levels of variability for the treated backwater. Additional responses to treatment included increased summer water depth, moderation of severe diurnal water quality fluctuations, and reductions in concentrations of solids, nutrients, and chlorophyll a. Fish species richness, numbers, and biomass were unchanged following rehabilitation, but trophic structure shifted away from omnivorous species and toward predators. Ecological services provided by floodplain riverine backwaters may be enhanced by modest management measures, but regaining and maintaining connectivity with adjacent ecological functional patches remains difficult.
Panel layout for rectilinear instruments.

Rectilinear dials on a typical cockpit display were arranged in parallel, both horizontally and vertically, and also in a mixed, orthogonal arrangement. Although, intuitively, the parallel layouts appeared advantageous, the mixed layout yielded the best detection accuracy and the shortest detection times. Increasing the spacing between groups within a parallel, vertical array did not significantly improve performances. Uniform scales in any arrangement proved superior to non-uniform scales in readout accuracy. Thirty-six pilots and sixteen technical and scientific laboratory personnel participated in the study. Performances of pilots and non-pilots were very similar.
Effect of endotoxin on myocardial performance.

Abstract : The effect of endotoxin on the heart is obscure, and results have been controversial. The purpose of the study was to determine if there is a direct detrimental action of endotoxin on cardiac tissue. An isolated heart and ventilated lungs removed from a donor dog were perfused with venous blood from an intact heparinized animal. An LD90 injection of E. coli endotoxin was intravenously administered to the dog. Results indicate that endotoxin has no early detrimental effect on myocardial performance. Oxygen uptake and left ventricular contractile force were maintained at pre-endotoxin values or increased above control in the presence of severe systemic hypotension in the dog. Left ventricular end diastolic pressure was not elevated in any experiment, but ordinarily decreased after endotoxin. Coronary blood flow progressively increased, and vascular resistance significantly fell.
Velocity measurements of turbulence collapse in a linearly stratified jet

The behavior of a horizontal turbulent round jet␣in a linearly density-stratified fluid is studied and compared to the unstratified case using digital particle-tracking velocimetry (DPTV). Close to the nozzle, the stratified jet grows axisymmetrically at the same rate as an unstratified jet. At a critical distance downstream, the vertical growth is suppressed, while the lateral spreading increases. The self-similar nature of unstratified round jets is not preserved in the stratified case. The velocity field and turbulent stresses are affected by the stratification closer to the jet nozzle than is expected from the flow visualization observations. In particular, the vertical normal stress and shear stress are significantly reduced compared to the unstratified case.
Possible limits on photon propagation from quantum gravity and space-time foam

Abstract Many quantum gravity theories imply that the vacuum is filled with virtual black holes. This Letter explores the process in which high energy photons interact with virtual black holes and decay into gravitons and photons of lower energy. The effect requires violation (or modification) of Lorentz invariance and implies that high energy photons cannot propagate over arbitrarily large distances. For the standard Planck mass and the likely form for the interaction cross section, this quantum foam limit becomes d ∗ Mpc ( E γ /10 7 GeV) −5 . For quantum gravity theories that posit a lower Planck scale, the interaction rate is larger and the limit is stronger. This Letter uses extant observations of gamma rays from cosmological sources to constrain this process for varying values of the Planck mass and a range of forms for the interaction cross sections.
Intercomputer communication architecture for a mixed redundancy distributed system

The triply redundant intercomputer network for the Advanced Information Processing System (AIPS), an architecture developed to serve as the core avionics system for a broad range of aerospace vehicles, is discussed. The AIPS intercomputer network provides a high-speed, Byzantine-fault-resilient communication service between processing sites, even in the presence of arbitrary failures of simplex and duplex processing sites on the IC network. The IC network contention poll has evolved from the Laning Poll. An analysis of the failure modes and effects and a simulation of the AIPS contention poll, demonstrate the robustness of the system.
Retrograde visceral vessel revascularization followed by endovascular aneurysm exclusion as an alternative to open surgical repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm

Staged visceral artery revascularization with occlusion of the proximal lumen enables endovascular exclusion of the entire thoracoabdominal aneurysm from a femoral approach. This technique has been successfully used in three patients at high risk for conventional repair.
Shades of Grace: Origen and Gregory of Nyssa's Soteriological Exegesis of the “Black and Beautiful” Bride in Song of Songs 1:5

Patristic exegesis soared to sublime heights with the allegorical interpretation of the Song of Songs. This nuptial tale, replete with evocative imagery and multivalent symbolism, supplied fertile ground for the mystical musings of Origen (ca. 185–254 C.E.) and Gregory of Nyssa (ca. 335–395 C.E.). Although its overt eroticism engendered some apprehension, the profound symbolic meanings deployed by the church fathers enabled the church to embrace fully the Song of Songs as a deep reservoir of theological insight. Always provocative and potentially scandalous, it perennially generates hermeneutical difficulties. Since exegesis invariably reflects the social and historical location of the interpreter, disparate themes and issues will resonate with different readers in different eras. For a generation of scholars attentive to the problem of racism, Song 1:5 merits particular attention because of its complex employment of racial imagery. In this verse the Bride proudly declares: “I am black and beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Qedar, like the curtains of Solomon” ( []; ). Both the Hebrew and Greek word for “black,” and , have negative connotations, and the ambiguous sense of the conjunction between and constitutes the grammatical crux of the hermeneutical debate.
On Bartlett adjustments for approximate Bayesian inference

SUMMARY In wide generality, the posterior distributions of the likelihood ratio statistic and the posterior ratio statistic are chi-squared to error of order O(n-'), where n is sample size. The error in the chi-squared approximation can be reduced to order O(n-2) by Bartlett correction. In this paper, explicit formulae are derived for the Bartlett adjustment factors of both statistics, and the derivations are based on the Tierney, Kass & Kadane (1989) asymptotic approximation for marginal posterior probability density functions. The use of numerical differentiation to facilitate calculation of the Bartlett adjustments is also described. Some applications are considered that concern inference about regression models from both complete and right-censored data.
Fluorine containing metabolites formed from 2-fluorobenzoic acid by Pseudomonas species

Abstract A pseudomonad has been isolated from soil which can utilize 2-fluorobenzoic acid as a sole carbon source. On this carbon source 3-fluorocatechol and 2-fluoromuconic acid have been isolated from the growth medium. Over 80% of the fluorine in 2-fluorobenzoic acid can be released as fluoride during the growth of the organism.
The Dynamics of Industry Concentration for U.S. Micro and Macro Brewers

In this update we document the changes in industry concentration of macro and micro brewers in the U.S. brewing industry since 1970. Technological change and the con- tinued success of Anheuser-Busch forced the macro brewers into a war-of-attrition game and contributed to rising concentration in the macro sector of the industry. Homogeni- zation of the beer produced by macro brewers, changes in local demand conditions, and a more favorable regulatory environment created profitable niches in many local markets for micro brewery beer, and entry into this sector occurred at a phenomenal rate from 1977 to 1998. Consistent with several models of industry dynamics, over-exuberance led to a shakeout as the number of micro breweries fell by over 16% from 1998 to 2002.