cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expression profiling of constitutive mast cells reveals a unique identity within the immune system

Mast cells are evolutionarily ancient sentinel cells. Like basophils, mast cells express the high-affinity receptor for immunoglobulin E (IgE) and have been linked to host defense and diverse immune-system-mediated diseases. To better characterize the function of these cells, we assessed the transcriptional profiles of mast cells isolated from peripheral connective tissues and basophils isolated from spleen and blood. We found that mast cells were transcriptionally distinct, clustering independently from all other profiled cells, and that mast cells demonstrated considerably greater heterogeneity across tissues than previously appreciated. We observed minimal homology between mast cells and basophils, which shared more overlap with other circulating granulocytes than with mast cells. The derivation of mast-cell and basophil transcriptional signatures underscores their differential capacities to detect environmental signals and influence the inflammatory milieu.
Parametric Down-Conversion: The Twins are born for a Life of Entanglement

The existence of quantum entanglement is what makes quantum physics different from classical physics. First introduced by Schrodinger in his discussion of the famous cat paradox [1], the amazing effects of quantum entanglement are very counter-intuitive and sometimes mind-boggling. As a pioneer and an expert in both classical and quantum coherence theory, Mandel is the right person to use light for the exploration of quantum entanglement. Among many of Mandel’s contributions, the pioneering work and subsequent development on parametric down-conversion (PDC) opened up a whole field of research to experimentally observe the phenomena of quantum entanglement. Today, in the newly established field of quantum information science, quantum entanglement has become an essential ingredient in basically all the discussions. Schrodinger may have been the first person to mention the word of “Entanglement”, but it was Mandel who first demonstrated it experimentally and created further a variety of different entangled states, which include entangled states of polarization, of frequency, and of phase variables. Besides quantum entanglement, Mandel also exploited PDC in the study of fundamental physics as well as practical applications in optical communication.
Transitional encounters: practices of queer futurity in K. Sello Duiker’s Thirteen Cents

AbstractThis article argues that the narrative structure of K. Sello Duiker’s novels highlights a disjunction between the temporality of history’s promise and that of the encounter. In contrast to a temporality of the promise or a messianic nation “to come,” Duiker’s novels render visible those who are deemed outside of the time of nation and history, those who are considered to be the by-products of modernity: the destitute, the sick, the jobless, the homeless, the queer. In doing so, Duiker’s work dramatizes a time of encounter, or what Samuel Delany has called “contact situations,” those brief, surprising, interracial and interclass exchanges that momentarily bring about new and unscripted relationality. Focusing on the young Azure in Thirteen Cents, this article argues that for Duiker, the encounter is fragile and evanescent compared with relations defined in received networks of power, networks organized by rigid fantasies of homophobic, violent masculinities and entrenched racial and economic privil...
Mental health and social services in schools: Variations by school characteristics—United States, 2014

Abstract Schools serve as a mental health service provider for students with related disorders. This study reported on specific mental health and social services practices overall and by school demographics in U.S. schools using data from the 2014 School Health Policies and Practices Study, a cross-sectional study of a nationally representative sample of schools with any of grades kindergarten through twelve, and an extant source of school demographics. Differences in mental health and social services staffing, facilities/equipment, and services were observed across school demographics. These data will help identify service gaps, which can guide efforts to better serve students and families.
Structural Mechanisms of β-Lactam Antibiotic Resistance in Penicillin-Binding Proteins

The effectiveness of β-lactam antibiotics is under siege by multiple pathogenic bacteria. These bacteria can produce β-lactamases that hydrolyze the antibiotic, alter their permeability by increasing efflux or decreasing influx (Gram-negative-specific), and structurally alter existing penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) to lower the rate of acylation or obtain a completely new penicillin-binding protein with extremely low rates of acylation by most β-lactam antibiotics. This chapter focuses on the genetic, biochemical, and structural mechanisms involved in PBP-mediated resistance, with a particular emphasis on resistance mechanisms in the pathogenic Gram-negative pathogen, Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
A Distributed Frequency Regulation Architecture for Islanded Inertialess AC Microgrids

We address the problem of frequency regulation in islanded ac microgrids with no inertia, i.e., those consisting entirely of generators interfaced through power electronics. The control architecture we propose to achieve this is designed to drive the average frequency error to zero while ensuring that the frequency at every bus is equal and that the operating point that results is stable. We also introduce a distributed implementation of the proposed control architecture that relies on a combination of three distributed algorithms. Two of the algorithms, which are well-established consensus-type algorithms, allow the generators and loads to acquire global information needed for making control decisions; the third algorithm, which we propose herein, enables the generators to obtain output values that balance the total demand for load without violating line flow constraints. Collectively, these algorithms eliminate the need for a centralized entity with complete knowledge of the network, its topology, or the capabilities or properties of the generators and loads therein. Moreover, the distributed implementation we propose relies on minimal measurements, requiring only that the power injection at each bus be measured. To verify our proposed control architecture and the algorithms on which its distributed implementation relies, we analytically show that the resulting closed-loop system is stable and establish convergence of our proposed algorithm. We also illustrate the features of the architecture using numerical simulations of three test cases applied to 6- and 37-bus networks.
Extending the Bethe Ansatz: The Quantum Three-Particle Ring

The quantum problem of three impenetrable particles of arbitrary mass confined to a ring is solved by the Bethe ansatz. The solution of this problem is intimately related to the solution a Helmholtz equation in the interior of an arbitrary acute triangle, a problem thought insoluble by Bethe ansatz methods.
Simon Gathercole’s, Defending Substitution: Why I Am Unconvinced and Concerned:

This article is a reflective review of Simon Gathercole’s book, Defending Substitution, in which he defended the position that Paul held a substitutionary position of atonement. That position conte...
Control of Listeria monocytogenes on vacuum-packaged frankfurters sprayed with lactic acid alone or in combination with sodium lauryl sulfate.

U.S. regulations require that processors employ lethal or inhibitory antimicrobial alternatives in production of ready-toeat meat and poultry products that support growth of Listeria monocytogenes and may be exposed to the processing environment after a lethality treatment. In this study, lactic acid (LA; 5%, vol/vol) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS; 0.5%, wt/vol) were evaluated individually or as a mixture (LASLS) for control of L. monocytogenes on frankfurters. Frankfurters were inoculated with a 10-strain mixture of L. monocytogenes, sprayed for 10 s (20 bar, 23 ± 2°C) with antimicrobials or distilled water (DW) before (LASLS or DW) or after (LA, SLS, LASLS, or DW) inoculation (4.8 ± 0.1 log CFU/cm2), vacuum packaged, and stored at 4°C for 90 days. Samples were analyzed for numbers of the pathogen (on PALCAM agar) and for total microbial counts (on tryptic soy agar with yeast extract) during storage. Spraying with DW, LA, or SLS after inoculation reduced numbers of L. monocytogenes by 1.3 ± 0.2, 1.8 ± 0...
Kindergarten in Russia’s Far East

Russia’s Far East region is dark, cold, and isolated for much of the year. However, programs for young children demonstrate the community commitment to provide for its youngest citizens and to promote the cultural heritage of the region. This chapter addresses how leaders have adapted childhood care and education to the region’s geography, economy, and culture. In 2008, the city of Magadan reorganized the programming and renovated the building for Kindergarten 3. The program components are organized so that children acquire knowledge and correct deviations, as well as to develop personality, acquire learning skills, enhance self-concept, and orient to the surrounding world. The fundamental direction and content of the Kindergarten includes: revival, preservation and transfer of meanings and values of national culture, and love for nature and the native land in which youngsters live and develop. The program, “Severyachok: Children of the North,” provides children with experiences related to the lives of indigenous people groups. Children hear stories, see everyday objects from the natives of the Far North–East, and learn how people use these objects in life.
Cycling Characteristics of Human Lymphocytes In Vitro

The cycling characteristics of human peripheral blood lymphocytes in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated cultures were examined by means of a new technique employing radioautographic methods which assay the fraction of cells whose nuclei contain DNA polymerase utilizing exogenous and/or endogenous DNA primer-template capability. The fraction of cells labeled by these techniques increases 5-11 hr prior to the onset of DNA synthesis. Estimates of cell cycle time, G1 time, and fraction of cycling cells are made for the first 4 days in culture. Evidence is presented to support the hypothesis that daughter cells of the first divisions may be retired from cycle by virtue of loss of primer-template availability, rather than by loss of DNA polymerase.
Where do camels belong? The story and science of invasive species

Thompson is a prominent member of the anti-invasion biology camp, signatory to the manifesto by Davis et al. (2011) and senior author of Thompson et al. (1995) arguing that invasive and native plants do not differ in any categorical way. So it is no surprise that his widely ranging book on invasive species—both plants and animals—opens with the assertion that ‘‘the vast majority [of introduced species] do no harm at all or are positively useful’’ (p. 6). The rest of the book is a melange of interesting facts of historical biogeography and natural history of particular species, attacks on invasion management as an irrational, futile attempt to freeze a dynamic biosphere, and suggestions that the entire field of invasion biology is, if not an outright conspiracy, at least a nefarious coalition of biologists seeking funding for their research, conservationists willing to abet them in order to further their own cause without having to justify their specific goals, and a popular and scientific press eager to publicize this questionable research because readers are excited by talk of ‘‘aliens’’ threatening ‘‘natives.’’ This is similar to the claim made by Theodoropoulos (2003) in Invasion Biology—Critique of a Pseudoscience, widely dismissed as a paranoid diatribe. Many readers may be inclined to toss Camels into the wastebasket when they reach the section entitled ‘‘Follow the Money’’ in Chapter 2. This would be a mistake. Although Thompson embeds unqualified and undefended general assertions in every chapter, numerous nuggets of interesting biology and history compensate for the potential apoplexy readers may experience. And it is an interesting challenge to rebut many of his claims. Chapter 1, for instance, consists of a fast geological history of the earth as it relates to broad patterns of biogeographic ranges, with heavy emphasis on Pleistocene glaciations and very early anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic dispersal of plants and animals. Presented in an effort to emphasize the earth’s dynamism and support the claim that there’s nothing special about people introducing species deliberately or accidentally, the cases include well-known examples like the collared dove and honeybees, but also interesting more obscure cases like that of the tree bumblebee in Great Britain and amphisbaenians on both sides of the Atlantic. The main message of Camels is summarized in Chapter 11, ‘‘Five myths about invasions.’’ These are, in Thompson’s view, that (1) alien species reduce biodiversity and ecosystem function, (2) aliens cost us a fortune, (3) aliens are always to blame, (4) aliens are out to get us, and (5) aliens are bad, natives good. Any reader of Biological Invasions will be familiar with at least some of the published arguments swirling around (1), (2), and (5). Suffice it to say that, in each case, D. Simberloff (&) Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA e-mail: dsimberloff@utk.edu
Single Pulse Spectral Analysis of Intracranial Pressures

A spectral analysis technique is described for the investigation of intracranial pressures. Spectral analysis has been used extensively for the study of vascular impedance (McDonald 1974), and more recently to study alterations in the transmission of cardiac pressure pulsations through the intracranial space (Branch 1988, Portnoy et al. 1982, 1983). The rigid encasement of the intracranial contents facilitates study of the cerebral vasculature by monitoring reflections of the cardiac pulsation in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
Prenatal Diagnosis of Disorders of Carbohydrate Metabolism

The consequences of the various genetically determined defects of carbohydrate metabolism differ markedly. For example, while glycogen storage disease type IX (GSD IX) is a “nuisance” not requiring treatment, GSD IIa is fatal and no treatment is available. The relative importance of prenatal diagnosis is noncontroversial for conditions at opposite ends of the clinical spectrum, and pregnancies at risk can be managed accordingly with the consensus of parents, health personnel, and public agencies. It is in situations such as GSD I, with patient survival but with unpredictable problems, in which judgments must be made based on individual circumstances of the patient, family, and community.
Detection of subthreshold atrophy in crossed cerebellar degeneration via two-compartment mathematical modeling of cell density in DWI: A proof of concept study

Abstract Crossed cerebellar diaschisis (CCD) refers to transneuronal degeneration of the corticopontocerebellar pathway, resulting in atrophy of cerebellum contralateral to supratentorial pathology. CCD is traditionally diagnosed on nuclear medicine studies. Our aim is to apply a biexponential diffusion model, composed of intracellular and extracellular compartments, to the detection of subthreshold CCD on DWI, with the calculated fraction of the intracellular compartment as a proposed measure of cell density. At a voxel-by-voxel basis, we solve for intracellular and extracellular coefficients in each side of the cerebellum and compare the distribution of coefficients between each hemisphere. We demonstrate, in all six CCD cases, a significantly lower contribution of the intracellular compartment to the cerebellar hemisphere contralateral to supratentorial pathology (p
Virtual Reality Simulation of Dust Accumulation on the Surface of Solar Panel

Dust accumulation on solar photovoltaic (PV) panels has been one of the major concerns, as the accumulated dust on the surface of PV module can significantly decrease the amount of solar irradiance reaching the cells. In the literature, there have been quite a few studies to build analytical or empirical models to understand the impacts of dust on solar power generation, but few studies have been conducted to “observe” and thus model the process of how dust gets to solar cells in the first place and appreciate the major ambient factors that could impact dust accumulation. This paper attempts to bridge that gap by building a virtual reality (VR) model that immerses users into an environment surrounded by solar panels; all perceived environmental factors, such as the sunlight illumination, external force on dust particles, have been considered to render the dust accumulation effects over any time scale of choice. The real-world environmental data, over the course of 30 years, obtained from NREL, are fit into the VR model, and the dust accumulation effects can be visualized. This work clearly demonstrates how latest VR technologies can play a central role in manipulating and displaying a large set of long-term, complex, incomplete, and irregular data.
On the thermal conductivity of AgSbTe2 and Ag0.82Sb1.18Te2.18

The temperature dependencies of the thermal conductivity of AgSbTe2 and Ag0.82Sb1.18Te2.18 were studied in the temperature range of 5–320 K. The obtained results are compared with quantitative calculations based on a theoretical model of generalized conductivity of heterogeneous systems. It was shown that a rather low value of thermal conductivity of AgSbTe2 and Ag0.82Sb1.18Te2.18 is associated with the disordering of the crystal structure, as well as phonon scattering by point defects and structural components. The presence of the second phase of Ag2Te leads to an increase in the thermal conductivity of AgSbTe2.The temperature dependencies of the thermal conductivity of AgSbTe2 and Ag0.82Sb1.18Te2.18 were studied in the temperature range of 5–320 K. The obtained results are compared with quantitative calculations based on a theoretical model of generalized conductivity of heterogeneous systems. It was shown that a rather low value of thermal conductivity of AgSbTe2 and Ag0.82Sb1.18Te2.18 is associated with the disordering of the crystal structure, as well as phonon scattering by point defects and structural components. The presence of the second phase of Ag2Te leads to an increase in the thermal conductivity of AgSbTe2.
Weak Mutual Information Between Functional Domains in Schizophrenia

Recently whole brain dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) has become an area of increasing focus in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies. Dynamic functional domain connectivity (dFDC) is a novel information theoretic framework which measures information flow between subsets of the whole brain dFNC. The information shared between domains can potentially shine light on brain disorders. Here we employ this framework to analyze an fMRI dataset containing 163 healthy controls (HCs) and 151 schizophrenia patients (SZs). We measured the entropy within each dFDC and the cross domain mutual information (CDMI) between pairs of dFDC. We performed linear regression on transformed entropy and CDMI to find significant group differences. Results indicate that SZs show significantly higher (transformed) entropy than HCs in subcortical (SC)-SC, default mode (DMN)-SC, cerebellar (CB)auditory (AUD), and CB-attention (ATTN) dFDC. They also demonstrate lower (transformed) CDMI than HCs between SC-visual (VIS) and SC-AUD, AUD-AUD and SC-AUD, AUD-sensorimotor (SM) and AUD-AUD, SM-ATTN and AUD-ATTN, SM-frontal (FRN) and AUD-FRN, VIS-ATTN and SM-ATTN as well as VIS-FRN and SM-FRN dFDC pairs. This implies that different dFDC pairs share lower mutual information in SZs compared to HCs. This in turn corroborates the notion that SZs demonstrate reduced connectivity dynamism in fMRI.
The female reproductive tract contains multiple innate sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins (Siglecs) that facilitate sperm survival.

A sperm that fertilizes an egg has successfully survived multiple checkpoints within the female reproductive tract, termed pre-fertilization events. The leukocytic response is a pre-fertilization event in which sperm trigger an immune response that promotes homing of circulating leukocytes to the uterine lumen to destroy most sperm. Various glycoconjugates decorate the sperm surface, including sialic acids, which are abundant at the sperm surface where they cap most glycan chains and regulate sperm migration through cervical mucus, formation of the sperm oviductal reservoir, and sperm capacitation. However, the role of sperm-associated sialic acids in the leukocytic reaction remains unknown. The cognate endogenous binding partners of sialic acids, sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins (Siglecs) play a pivotal role in regulating many immune responses. Here we investigated whether sperm-associated sialic acids inhibit activation of neutrophils, one of the major immune cells involved in the leukocytic reaction. We used in vitro interactions between sperm and neutrophils as well as binding assays between sperm and recombinant Siglec-Fc chimeric proteins to measure interactions. Moreover, we examined whether Siglecs are expressed on human and mouse endometria, which have a role in initiating the leukocytic reaction. Surprisingly less sialylated, capacitated, sperm did not increase neutrophil activation in vitro. However, we observed expression of several Siglecs on the endometrium and that these receptors interact with sialylated sperm. Our results indicate that sperm sialic acids may interact with endometrial Siglecs and that these interactions facilitate sperm survival in the face of female immunity.
The Regenerative Horizon: Opportunities for Nursing Research and Practice

Background Regenerative technologies aim to restore organ form and function. Technological advances in regenerative treatments have led to patients increasingly seeking these therapies. The readiness of nursing to fully contribute to this emerging healthcare field is uncertain. Purpose The goal of this discipline-oriented overview is to enhance awareness in the nursing community regarding regenerative science, and to provide suggestions for nursing research contributions and practice implications. Methods Evolving and applied cutting-edge therapies, such as regenerative immunotherapies with chimeric antigen receptor expressing T lymphocytes, are highlighted in the context of emerging opportunities for nurses in practice and research. Discussion Next generation nurses will increasingly be at the forefront of new therapies poised to make chronic illnesses curable, thus restoring health and function to diverse groups of individuals. Clinical relevance The regenerative care model imposes on the nursing community the imperative to (a) increase research awareness; (a) educate, develop, and deploy a skilled nursing workforce; (c) integrate regenerative technologies into nursing practice; and (d) embrace the regenerative technologies horizon as a future in health care.
Synergy Between Kit Ligand (KL) and IL-4 In Mast Cells Is Mediated by Cross-Receptor Interactions In Lipid Rafts.

Abstract 1564 Studies of erythroid and thymic differentiation have shown that cross-receptor interactions between the stem cell factor receptor Kit, a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), and tissue-restricted Type I cytokine receptors (EpoR and IL-7R, respectively) are necessary for normal development of each lineage. To determine whether these Kit-Type I cytokine receptor interactions are a ubiquitous phenomena in Kit (+) hematopoietic cells, we studied murine bone marrow derived mast cells (BMMC), which express Kit and IL-4R, and are responsive to both cognate ligands. Both KL and IL-4 were individually mitogenic; combinations of KL and IL-4 synergistically promoted BMMC proliferation, even at suboptimal concentrations of each ligand (Synergy Index 2.7 for SCF 20ng/ml + IL-4 5ng/ml). Similar to the results seen previously with Kit and EpoR or IL-7R, activation of Kit by KL resulted in cross-receptor tyrosine phosphorylation of the IL-4Rα and γc subunits of IL-4R, even in the absence of their cognate ligand, IL-4. Each subunit of the IL-4R was independently phosphorylated by activated Kit, in the absence of Jak3. Furthermore, in the malignant mast cell line HMC-1, inhibition of oncogenic Kit by imatinib also reversed constitutive phosphorylation of IL-4R. Previous studies have shown that STAT 1α, STAT 5A, and STAT 5B, but not Stat6, are bound to and directly phosphorylated by activated Kit. In contrast, STAT6 is activated by engagement of IL-4R by its cognate ligand. Cross-receptor phosphorylation of IL-4R by activated Kit in BMMC induced STAT6 phosphorylation, with the same apparent pI as after activation of IL-4R by cognate ligand. Subcellular fractionation showed that activated Kit, γc, Jak3, and STATs were localized in lipid raft fractions upon KL stimulation. Inhibition of lipid raft formation by MβCD resulted in loss of both cross-receptor tyrosine phosphorylation of IL-4R by Kit and synergistic proliferation, but not proliferation induced by each cognate ligand. Gene expression analyses of KL stimulated BMMC from wt and IL-4Rα/γc deficient mice demonstrated that over 30% of the Kit gene signature was dependent on the presence of the IL-4R. Together, the data indicate that the synergy of KL and IL-4 in BMMC is mediated by cross-receptor interactions between Kit and IL-4R in raft membrane microdomains. The Kit-IL-4R interaction is the third cross-receptor interaction described between the Kit RTK and a tissue-restricted Type I cytokine receptor. Besides RBC, thymocytes, and mast cells, such cross-receptor interactions are likely to be a general mechanism for synergistic and tissue-specific pleiotropic signaling by Kit in hematopoiesis and possibly other cell types, e.g., various Kit (+) stem cell populations and cancers. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Technology and the Radio Hobby Mature, 1927–1929

Here, we can see the maturation of the hobby culture of radio in the late 1920s. The radio hobby developed a stable profile after the ebbing of “radio fever” and broadened in response to changes in technology. The chapter looks first at the lasting influence of the First World War on the discourse around radio, and pays particular attention to conflict over the words used to describe the new media and hobby. The chapter further shows how “ham radio” developed into a distinct practice and describes the parallel worlds of middle-class and working-class hobby organizations. It looks at the importance of radio in bringing the outside world into the living room via shortwave, and the role of women in the radio hobby.
POSTER: Tango: An Optimizing Compiler for Just-In-Time RTL Simulation

The end of Moore's law with the advent of hardware specialization presents a unique challenge for a much tighter software and hardware co-design environment to exploit domain-specific optimizations and increase design efficiency. The productivity of software-hardware codesign relies not on only in better integration between the software and hardware design methodologies but more importantly in the effectiveness of the design tools at reducing the development time. In this work, we developed Tango, an Optimizing compiler for a Just-in-Time RTL simulator. Tango implements unique hardware-centric compiler transformations to speed up runtime code generation in a software-hardware codesign environment where hardware simulation speed is critical. Tango achieves a 3x average speedup compared to the state-of-the-art RTL simulators.
Work precarity and gig literacies in online freelancing

Many workers have been drawn to the gig economy by the promise of flexible, autonomous work, but scholars have highlighted how independent working arrangements also come with the drawbacks of preca...
Spatially gifted, academically inconvenienced: Spatially talented students experience less academic engagement and more behavioural issues than other talented students.

Background Spatially talented students have a capacity for success that is too often overlooked by educational services. Because these students may lack appropriate challenge, theorists suggest these students experience greater academic struggles than other gifted students, including behavioural problems and lack of academic engagement. Aims The goal of this research was to explore empirical evidence for the claim that spatially talented students would experience more academic struggles than other gifted students. We sought to understand the size of the 'spatially talented' population and their patterns of behavioural and academic struggles in high school. We also looked at long-term outcomes, including degree completion. Samples This article explores characteristics of spatial talent in three US nationally representative data sets: Project Talent (1960), High School and Beyond (1980), and the National Longitudinal Study of Youth (1997). Combined, these data provide a 60-year longitudinal study of student outcomes. Methods This study utilized factor analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and regression methods to explore the research questions for each data set. Results and conclusions From our analyses, we estimate that 4-6% (at least 2 million) of the 56.6 million students in the US K-12 system are spatially talented students that are not identified by common gifted and talented screening processes. These students had greater academic challenges, including reading difficulties, poor study habits, and behavioural troubles. We also found that spatially talented students were less likely to complete college degrees compared to other talented students. Our findings support the need for greater services to these talented students.
Heavy Traffic Scaling Limits for shortest remaining processing time queues with heavy tailed processing time distributions

We study a single server queue operating under the shortest remaining processing time (SRPT) scheduling policy; that is, the server preemptively serves the job with the shortest remaining processing time first. In this work we are interested in studying the asymptotic behavior of suitably scaled measure-valued state descriptors that describe the evolution of a sequence of SRPT queuing systems. Gromoll, Kruk, and Puha (2011) have studied this problem under diffusive scaling. In the setting where the processing time distributions have unbounded support, under suitable conditions, they show that the diffusion scaled measures converge in distribution to the process that is identically zero. In Puha (2015) for the setting where the processing time distributions have unbounded support and light tails, a non-standard scaling of the queue length process is shown to give rise to a form of state space collapse that results in a nonzero limit. In the current work we consider the case where processing time distributions have finite second moments and regularly varying tails. We show that the measure valued process, under a non-standard scaling, converges in distribution in the space of paths of measures. In sharp contrast with previous results, there is no state space collapse. Nevertheless, the description of the limit is simple and given explicitly in terms of a certain $\mathbb{R}_+$ valued random field which is determined from a single Brownian motion. Along the way we establish convergence of suitably scaled workload and queue length processes. We also show that as the tail of the distribution of job processing times becomes lighter in an appropriate fashion, the difference between the limiting queue length process and the limiting workload process converges to zero, thereby approaching the behavior of state space collapse.
Selective screw fixation is associated with early failure of primary acetabular components for aseptic loosening

Selective supplementation of acetabular component fixation with a screw during primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) assumes that the surgeon can detect when an acetabular component needs additional stability. In contrast, nonselective screw users do not alter their practice based on their interpretation of stability and either use screws all or none of the time. We aimed to determine the effect of selective screw use on aseptic acetabular component loosening. We retrospectively reviewed aseptic failures of acetabular components after primaty THA. We compared the survivorship of selective and nonselective supplementation of acetabular fixation with respect to time to revision, obesity, and screw use. Selective screw use (n = 16) was associated with earlier acetabular component aseptic loosening (median: 1.9 years; interquartile range [IQR]: 1.1-5.0) compared to nonselective screw use (n = 22; median: 5.6 years; IQR: 2.0-15.3; P = .010). Selective screw use was independently associated with earlier revision after adjusting for patient obesity. Obesity was associated with selective screw use in 50% of the cases vs 14% of nonselective cases (odds ratio: 6.3; confidence interval: 1.2-25.2; P = .028), possibly reflecting the increased difficulty in achieving acetabular component stability in this and other settings with compromised bone. Surgeons should carefully assess component stability at time of primary THA. If the acetabulum is not stable, the addition of screws alone may not be sufficient for acetabular component stability.
Soil CO2 emission in response to organic amendments, temperature, and rainfall.

Vegetated land surfaces play an important role in determining the fate of carbon in the global carbon cycle. However, our understanding of the terrestrial biosphere on a global scale is subject to considerable uncertainty, especially concerning the impacts of climatic variables on the carbon cycle. Soil is a source and also a sink of CO2 exchange and helps in carbon sequestration. Agricultural management practices influence soil water dynamics, as well as carbon cycling by changing soil CO2 emission and uptake rates. The rate of soil CO2 emission varies for different crops and different organic amendments. The major goal of this study was to assess the impacts of the type and rate of organic amendment on soil CO2 emission in a collard greens crop grown in the southeast Texas environment. Thirty-six plots were developed to grow collard greens on Prairie View A&M University’s Research Farm. Three types of organic amendments (Chicken manure, Dairy manure, and Milorganite), at four levels of application (0, 168, 336, and 672 kg N/ha) were used and replicated three times. Each organic amendment type was applied to nine randomly selected plots. Three random plots were used as a control in each row. We measured daily soil CO2 emission for the first two weeks and every other day in a week during the experiment. We evaluated the effects of organic amendments and the application rates on soil CO2 emission for collard greens during two growing seasons. The results showed higher the application rates for each organic amendment, higher the CO2 emissions from the soil. The results also showed higher cumulative CO2 emissions for the soils amended with chicken manure and milorganite, but lowest for the soils amended with dairy manure. This field experiment and analyses help better understand the temporal and spatial variations of soil CO2 emission, and also help to develop best management practices to maximize carbon sequestration and to minimize soil CO2 emissions during the growth periods of collard greens under changing temperatures using different organic amendments, and application rates.
Teaching rapid oral health deterioration risk assessment: A 5-year report.

Purpose/objectives The purpose of this study was to present a 5-year report about the outcomes of using a teaching tool that guides dental students through the thought process of the expert about how to assess the risk of rapid oral health deterioration (ROHD) among older adults and provide viable treatment alternatives. Methods A teaching tool was previously developed using ROHD risk factors identified in the literature and the steps that experts apply in their treatment decision making, summarized in 10 questions. During 5 years, 188 senior dental students were introduced to the teaching tool and asked to use the 10-question set to present a case they have treated during their Geriatric and Special Needs Program. Two evaluators were asked to grade the students on each question. Students were graded "G" if they answered the question and grasped the principles behind it, "A" if they only answered the question, or "M" if they missed the question. Additionally, the students were given a form to grade the importance of and comment on the exercise. Results More than 75% of the students had an A or G for most questions, agreement between the 2 evaluators was above 85%, and students' performances improved during the 5-year period. Additionally, 94.4% of the students considered the teaching tool as important or very important for the general dentist. Conclusion The vast majority of the students had an A or G grade, examiner agreement was high, and the students appreciated the importance of this teaching tool for the general dentist.
Understanding influencing attributes of adolescent snack choices: Evidence from a discrete choice experiment

Abstract The quality of diet is crucial to the health and well-being of America’s adolescents. While a critical step in the goal toward healthier eating is facilitated by school nutrition guidelines that address the food environment, additional information on snack preferences can contribute to this goal. The purpose of this study was to determine which snack nutrient and snack characteristic attributes affect adolescent snack choices and quantify their relative importance. The method used in this study was a discrete choice experiment (DCE) designed with a unique approach of block fractional factorial designs. The study participants were middle school students, aged 11 to 13 years old (n=166) from an underrepresented, minority-serving middle school in Orange County, California. A mixed logit model was used to analyze the data from DCEs that examined five snack nutrients and five snack characteristics. The results indicated whole grains had the highest relative importance of snack nutrients followed by salt, protein, calories and sugar. Students were more attentive to negative nutrients when two attributes interacted. Price had the highest relative importance of snack characteristics followed by nutritiousness, social, taste, and convenience. Students were more likely to choose a snack in which their family eats even if the snack was low in nutrient content. Understanding students’ preferences can potentially enhance healthy eating practices on school campuses. This provides implications for stakeholders working to implement and comply with federal school nutrition guidelines.
High-resolution chemostratigraphy in carbonate mudstones: Salina A-1 carbonate (Silurian), Michigan Basin, U.S.A.

Abstract Portable Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometry (PXRF) is routinely used to identify stratigraphic variations in the elemental chemistry of fine-grained siliciclastics. The application of this approach in carbonates is limited, however. In this study, over 9000 PXRF analyses from nine drill cores are used to document cm-scale variations in the carbonate mudstones of the A-1 Carbonate (Silurian) in the Michigan Basin. High-resolution elemental data are integrated with petrographic and mineralogical observations to evaluate the extent to which: (i) basin-center mudstones in the A-1 Carbonate (A-1C) have spatially correlative elemental signatures (i.e. chemofacies), and (ii) elemental variations reflect temporal changes in relative sea-level and sedimentation. Spatially correlative variations in concentrations less than 5 wt% of Si, Al, K, and S are observed throughout the A-1C. Higher concentrations of Si, Al, and K are associated with more abundant siliciclastic minerals as determined petrographically and with x-ray diffraction, and are thus interpreted to reflect intensification of siliciclastic sedimentation caused by relative sea-level fall. Associated S increases reflect a higher abundance of anhydrite, which is interpreted as diagenetically altered gypsum deposited during periods of low relative sea-level. Chemofacies successions for siliciclastic and evaporite proxy elements indicate four transgressive-regressive cycles. Collectively, these data show that variations in the minor, non-carbonate sediment fraction within the A-1C are regionally correlative suggesting that siliciclastic and evaporite deposition responded in tandem to basin-wide controls on sedimentation. The observed relationship between siliciclastics and evaporites further exemplifies the broader utility of quantifying the elemental signatures and non-carbonate mineral compositions in carbonate-dominated strata to constrain sequence stratigraphic interpretations. These findings add to a growing body of work that demonstrates the utility of PXRF to generate reliable geochemical data sets and highlights the importance of integrating elemental and mineral data in sedimentological interpretations.
A small PAM optimises target recognition in the CRISPR-Cas immune system

CRISPR-Cas is an adaptive immune mechanism that has been harnessed for a variety of genetic engineering applications: the Cas9 protein recognises a 2-5nt DNA motif, known as the PAM, and a programmable crRNA binds a target DNA sequence that is then cleaved. While off-target activity is undesirable, it occurs because cross-reactivity was beneficial in the immune system on which the machinery is based. Here, a stochastic model of the target recognition reaction was derived to study the specificity of the innate immune mechanism in bacteria. CRISPR systems with Cas9 proteins that recognised PAMs of varying lengths were tested on self and phage DNA. The model showed that the energy associated with PAM binding impacted mismatch tolerance, cleavage probability, and cleavage time. Small PAMs allowed the CRISPR to balance catching mutant phages, avoiding self-targeting, and quickly dissociating from critically non-matching sequences. Additionally, the results revealed a lower tolerance to mismatches in the PAM and a PAM-proximal region known as the seed, as seen in experiments. This work illustrates the role that the Cas9 protein has in dictating the specificity of DNA cleavage that can aid in preventing off-target activity in biotechnology applications.
Systolic Blood Pressure Time in Target Range and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Hypertension.

Abstract Background Standard blood pressure control metrics may not account for fluctuations in blood pressure over time. Objectives This study sought to estimate the independent association between time in systolic blood pressure target range and major adverse cardiovascular events among adults with hypertension. Methods This study was a post hoc analysis of SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial), a randomized clinical trial that compared intensive ( Results Participants with greater time in target range were younger, had lower 10-year cardiovascular risk and lower baseline systolic blood pressure, and were more likely women and statin users. Each 1-SD increase in time in target range was significantly associated with a decreased risk of first major adverse cardiovascular event in fully adjusted models. Time in target range remained significantly associated with major adverse cardiovascular events despite adjustment for mean systolic blood pressure or systolic blood pressure variability. Among participants with mean systolic blood pressure at or below target, time in target range remained associated with major adverse cardiovascular events. Conclusions Time in systolic blood pressure target range independently predicts major adverse cardiovascular event risk.
Exclusionary Practices and the Antitrust Laws

Much public and private enforcement of the antitrust laws is based on a concern with exclusiou, or in antitrust jargon "foreclosure," of competing firms from the market. Such seemingly disparate practices as tying arrangements, predatory pricing, vertical mergers, exclusive dealing, and group boycotts are all challenged as tending to exclude competitors on grounds unrelated to the superior efficiency of the firm or firms doing the excluding. The economists of the "Chicago School" of antitrust analysis, Aaron Director and others,' have mounted a powerful attack on the implicit economic theory that underlies the current policy of the law towards the allegedly exclusionary practices. One purpose of this article is to restate these criticisms and in a few places extend them. The article will also indicate some respects in which I consider the criticisms overstated. Another purpose is to indicate the precise implications for antitrust policy of an appropriately qualified critique of the economic premises of current policy. These implications concern both the substantive content of the law and the allocation of responsibilities for law enforcement.
Accurate Blade Tip Timing Limits Through Geometry Mistuning Modeling

Blade tip timing (BTT) is a commonly used non-intrusive stress measurement system to estimate the operational stresses within an engine’s rotors without the costly installation of strain gauges that can add additional stiffness to the rotor. BTT systems are now standard on many engine tests and ensure safe operations by avoiding running near maximum rotor stress limits. Since these systems measure blade time of arrival (TOA), processes are applied to first convert this data to displacement and then to stress. This effort focuses on the conversion of displacement to stress where the the classic approach utilizes nominal geometry obtained from an “as-designed” nominal model and creates computes the mode shapes using finite element analysis (FEA). The predicted mode shapes of the cyclic analysis reveal the relationship between maximal blade stress and tip displacement for a given nominally designed rotor. However, manufactured rotors deviate from nominal design due to inherent variability in the machining procedures. It is now possible through high fidelity optical geometry collection systems to obtain more accurate BTT limits using measured IBR geometry from as-manufactured rotors. It will be shown that due to the high variability of blade-to-blade geometry obtained from an optically scanned rotor that the BTT limits can vary significantly between blades. A method is also developed that allows comparisons between cyclic sector and full rotor FEA. This research suggests to optimize BTT probe placement not only to measure the maximum expected deflection given blade tip mode shapes, but also to account to for blade to blade geometric variation.Copyright © 2015 by ASME