cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increased diversity of zoonotic pathogens and Borrelia burgdorferi strains in established versus incipient Ixodes scapularis populations across the Midwestern United States.

The center of origin theory predicts that genetic diversity will be greatest near a specie’s geographic origin because of the length of time for evolution. By corollary, diversity will decrease with distance from the origin; furthermore, invasion and colonization are frequently associated with founder effects that reduce genetic variation in incipient populations. The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, harbors a suite of zoonotic pathogens, and the geographic range of the tick is expanding in the upper Midwestern United States. Therefore, we posited that diversity of I. scapularis-borne pathogens across its Midwestern range should correlate with the rate of the range expansion of this tick as well as subsequent disease emergence. Analysis of 1565 adult I. scapularis ticks from 13 sites across five Midwestern states revealed that tick infection prevalence with multiple microbial agents (Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi, Babesia odocoilei, Babesia microti, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum), coinfections, and molecular genetic diversity of B. burgdorferi all were positively correlated with the duration of establishment of tick populations, and therefore generally support the center of origin – pathogen diversity hypothesis. The observed differences across the gradient of establishment, however, were not strong and were nuanced by the high frequency of coinfections in tick populations at both established and recently-invaded tick populations. These results suggest that the invasion of ticks and their associated pathogens likely involve multiple means of pathogen introduction, rather than the conventionally presented scenario whereby infected, invading ticks are solely responsible for introducing pathogens to naive host populations.
Linezolid Activity Compared to Those of Selected Macrolides and Other Agents against Aerobic and Anaerobic Pathogens Isolated from Soft Tissue Bite Infections in Humans

Linezolid was tested against 420 aerobes and anaerobes, including 148 Pasteurella isolates, by an agar dilution method. Linezolid was active against all Pasteurella multocida subsp. multocida and P. multocida subsp. septica isolates and most Pasteurella canis, Pasteurella dagmatis, and Pasteurella stomatis isolates. The MIC was ≤2 μg/ml for staphylococci, streptococci, EF-4b, Weeksella zoohelcum, Fusobacterium nucleatum, other fusobacteria, Porphyromonas spp., Prevotella spp., peptostreptococci, and almost all Bacteroides tectum isolates.
User needs and assessing the impact of low latency NASA Earth observation data availability on societal benefit

Since the advent of NASA's Earth Observing System, knowledge of the practical benefits of Earth science data has grown considerably. The community using NASA Earth science observations in applications has grown significantly, with increasing sophistication to serve national interests. Data latency, or how quickly communities receive science observations after acquisition, can have a direct impact on the applications and usability of the information. This study was conducted to determine how users are incorporating NASA data into applications and operational processes to benefit society beyond scientific research, as well as to determine the need for data latency of less than 12 h. The results of the analysis clearly show the significant benefit to society of serving the needs of the agricultural, emergency response, environmental monitoring and weather communities who use rapidly delivered, accurate Earth science data. The study also showed the potential of expanding the communities who use low latency NASA science data products to provide new ways of transforming data into information. These benefits can be achieved with a clear and consistent NASA policy on product latency.
Predicting energy consumption of MPEG video playback on handhelds

One of the principal concerns of wireless computing is the limited battery life of mobile devices. To address the concern, application-aware adaptation has emerged as one of the effective strategies for controlling energy usage. But for adaptation to be effective, we must be able to predict the energy requirement of running applications, in an application-specific manner. This paper reports a set of experiments performed to understand the energy usage pattern of handheld devices while decoding and displaying MPEG compressed video in software. Experiments are designed to bring forth parameters that can be used to predict the energy requirement for MPEG playback. Based on our experimental results, we find that it is possible to construct simple polynomial models of energy usage with good least square fit (R value of 0.92 and higher). These models can be used to predict application energy requirement under various combinations of controllable video parameters.
Percepts Considered as “Bundles of Sensations”: The Confusion of Percepts with Afterimages:

Radical behaviorism and direct realism attempt to reduce percepts and sensations, respectively, to environmental stimuli and bodily stimuli. Contrary to this attempted reduction, the present research indicates that percepts are not qualitatively distinguishable from after-sensations. Other research suggests that the “peripherally excited sensations” in percepts are nevertheless distinguishable from the “centrally excited sensations” in mental images.
Nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis chiral separations with quaternary ammonium β-cyclodextrin

Abstract Chiral separation of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (profens), 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diyl-hydrogen phosphate, N -[1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl]phthalamic acid, and derivatized amino acids by a cationic cyclodextrin, quaternary ammonium β-cyclodextrin (QA-β-CD), was investigated by capillary electrophoresis (CE) in both aqueous and nonaqueous media. Several profens and amino acids could only be separated by QA-β-CD in pure formamide system. No chiral separation of the profens was achieved in the following solvents: N -methylformamide, methanol, dimethyl sulfoxide, and water; however, chiral separations of most of the amino acids were obtained in all of these solvents. The effects of other experimental parameters such as the CD concentration and apparent pH (pH*) were also investigated. The first application of nonaqueous CE chiral separation of ketoprofen in a commercially available sample, Actron, was also examined. In addition, the reversal of electroosmotic flow by QA-β-CD was observed in water, formamide, N -methylformamide, methanol, and dimethyl sulfoxide media.
GPU-Q-J, a fast method for calculating root mean square deviation (RMSD) after optimal superposition

Calculation of the root mean square deviation (RMSD) between the atomic coordinates of two optimally superposed structures is a basic component of structural comparison techniques. We describe a quaternion based method, GPU-Q-J, that is stable with single precision calculations and suitable for graphics processor units (GPUs). The application was implemented on an ATI 4770 graphics card in C/C++ and Brook+ in Linux where it was 260 to 760 times faster than existing unoptimized CPU methods. Source code is available from the Compbio website http://software.compbio.washington.edu/misc/downloads/st_gpu_fit/ or from the author LHH. The Nutritious Rice for the World Project (NRW) on World Community Grid predicted de novo, the structures of over 62,000 small proteins and protein domains returning a total of 10 billion candidate structures. Clustering ensembles of structures on this scale requires calculation of large similarity matrices consisting of RMSDs between each pair of structures in the set. As a real-world test, we calculated the matrices for 6 different ensembles from NRW. The GPU method was 260 times faster that the fastest existing CPU based method and over 500 times faster than the method that had been previously used. GPU-Q-J is a significant advance over previous CPU methods. It relieves a major bottleneck in the clustering of large numbers of structures for NRW. It also has applications in structure comparison methods that involve multiple superposition and RMSD determination steps, particularly when such methods are applied on a proteome and genome wide scale.
Metal atoms trapped in cryogenic matrices as potential rocket fuels

Metal atom dispersions in cryogenic matrices are potential high-energy density rocket fuels. Using the 7sp extractable to rate a fuel, we have examined the potential of a family of "metal in matrix" fuels, in combination with liquid oxygen or liquid fluorine oxidizers. The fuels studied were composed of a dispersion of light metal atoms in a molecular hydrogen matrix. The 7sp was calculated using a thermodynamic code designed for rocket combustion. The code requires accurate values for the enthalpy of formation of the fuel (A///(fuel)). For any particular total metal mole fraction (i.e., loading) the metal in matrix fuel will contain a distribution of metalbearing species. Each will have its own characteristic A//y. The weighted sum of these yields A/f/(fuel). Consequently, accurate calculation of A///(fuel) requires that this population, the relative concentrations of free metal atoms, dimers, and metal bearing clusters, be accurately described. A statistical model was devised to predict this distribution. Using it, the enthalpy of formation of the fuel was computed. We find that several members of the family studied have, in combination with either liquid oxygen or fluorine, an 7sp potential significantly greater than that which characterizes the best currently available fuel/oxidized combination. In general, for all the family members studied, the maximum 7sp is extracted when the metal atom concentration is maximized, and under these circumstances the oxidizer reacts exclusively with the metal inclusions while the matrix behaves as the system's working fluid. Finally these predictions, based on our statistical model of the distribution of metal bearing species, were compared with predictions based on models in which 1) only metal atoms and dimers are present in the matrix, or 2) only selectively positioned metal atoms are included in the matrix.
Experimental determinations of the molar heat and entropy of adsorption and the activity coefficient of the adsorbed phase for the methane-ethane-silica gel system.

Molar heat and entropy of adsorption and activity coefficient of adsorbed phase for methane-ethane- silica gel system
STABLE CARBON ISOTOPES AS INDICATORS OF LIMITATIONS TO FOREST GROWTH IMPOSED BY CLIMATE STRESS

Stable carbon isotopes have the potential to be sensitive indicators of carbon uptake limitations in forest trees. We assessed the ability of climate factors to explain the variation in 813C in foliage and annual rings of Douglas-fir trees at six sites along a steep climatic gradient in Oregon. To examine the physiological basis of the relationship between climate and 813C, we parameterized a process-level model (FOREST-BGC) and used the model to separate the daily limitations on stomatal conductance due to climate factors. We found that, of the climatic constraints that could affect stomatal conductance (freezing temperature, humidity deficit, and soil drought), only the cumulative growing season con- straints on stomata imposed by humidity deficit explained the variability in the carbon isotope composition of cellulose in foliage. Over an 8-yr period at any one site, modelled stomatal limitation due to humidity deficit was significantly correlated with foliar 813C. Over the same period, 813C in annual growth rings was less well correlated with modelled stomatal constraints. This relation between 813C and absolute humidity demonstrated the sensitivity of carbon uptake in Douglas-fir, a species with a broad range across the inter- mountain West, to moisture at the leaf-atmosphere interface. Furthermore, the parameters derived from the relationship offer a baseline from which to assess limitations imposed on Douglas-fir carbon uptake from sources other than climate.
Race, Gender, and Research: Implications for Teaching from Depictions of Professors in Popular Film, 1985-2005

When students enter college classrooms for the first time they inevitably have preconceived images of professors. According to research on student evaluations of teaching, these preconceptions have...
Interactions between Changes in the Intensity and Duration of the Active State in the Characterization of Inotropic Stimuli on Heart Muscle

The responses of isolated cat papillary muscles and left atrial strips to a variety of procedures were classified systematically according to the induced changes in peak tension (T), mean rate of tension development (δT/δt), and time to peak tension (TTP). Increasing temperature from 25° to 37°C augmented δT/δt but reduced TTP reciprocally so that T remained constant. Increased frequency of contraction, thyroid hormone, and increased temperature markedly augmented δT/δt but shortened TTP, with relatively little alteration in T. Norepinephrine, tyramine, paired electrical stimulation, strophanthidin, and calcium increased T by augmenting ΔT/δt proportionately more than they reduced TTP. Acetylcholine and serotonin augmented T by raising δT/δt with relatively little effect on TTP. Strontium increased T by causing both a prolongation of TTP and an augmentation of δT/Δt. Depression of T in muscles from failing hearts occurred primarily by a reduction of δT/δt, and the negative inotropic effects of hypoxia or pentobarbital resulted from reductions in both δT/δt and TTP. In muscles from hypothyroid cats, depression of δT/δt was partially compensated for by prolongation of TTP. Since δT/δt is related to the intensity of the active state and TTP to its duration, such analysis of these variables should provide a framework for the characterization and quantitative comparison of various types of inotropic stimuli.
Comparative studies of reaction rates of NH3 with MgH2 and LiH

The reaction rate of MgH2 with NH3 is studied using a two-layered structure containing a top MgH2 layer and a bottom LiNH2 layer. Quantification of the effluent gas composition from the two-layered structure indicates substantial NH3 emission, while the X-ray diffraction analysis reveals little formation of the reaction products between MgH2 and NH3. In contrast, the study of the two-layered structure containing a top LiH layer and a bottom LiNH2 layer reveals that the reaction between LiH and NH3 is much faster than that between MgH2 and NH3. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Traumatic Brain Injury and Vestibular Pathology as a Comorbidity After Blast Exposure

Blasts or explosions are the most common mechanisms of injury in modern warfare. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a frequent consequence of exposure to such attacks. Although the management of orthopedic, integumentary, neurocognitive, and neurobehavioral sequelae in survivors of blasts has been described in the literature, less attention has been paid to the physical therapist examination and care of people with dizziness and blast-induced TBI (BITBI). Dizziness is a common clinical finding in people with BITBI; however, many US military service members who have been exposed to blasts and who are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan also complain of vertigo, gaze instability, motion intolerance, and other symptoms consistent with peripheral vestibular pathology. To date, few studies have addressed such “vestibular” complaints in service members injured by blasts. Given the demonstrated efficacy of treating the signs and symptoms associated with vestibular pathology, vestibular rehabilitation may have important implications for the successful care of service members who have been injured by blasts and who are complaining of vertigo or other symptoms consistent with vestibular pathology. In addition, there is a great need to build consensus on the clinical best practices for the assessment and management of BITBI and blast-related dizziness. The purpose of this review is to summarize the findings of clinicians and scientists conducting research on the effects of blasts with the aims of defining the scope of the problem, describing and characterizing the effects of blasts, reviewing relevant patients’ characteristics and sensorimotor deficits associated with BITBI, and suggesting clinical best practices for the rehabilitation of BITBI and blast-related dizziness.
Scene description for object manipulation in unstructured environments

Sensing and reasoning techniques for the data-driven description of objects in unstructured environments are given. One of the techniques presented is for extrapolating the shape of individual objects using symmetries, while the other is applicable to objects jumbled in a pile. No a priori object models are needed for these techniques. A hypothesize and test approach is used to infer complete shape information from range images that represent partial knowledge about an object's shape. Using explicit knowledge about the geometrical relationship of the sensor to the scene, hypotheses are verified to ensure that they do not violate physical laws such as object transparency and solidity. In addition, basic physical rules such as stability and contact are used to improve the estimates of the shapes of objects that may be partially visible or partially outside the field of view of the sensor. >
Recurrent network model of the neural mechanism of short-term active memory

Two decades of single unit recording in monkeys performing short-term memory tasks has established that information can be stored as sustained neural activity. The mechanism of this information storage is unknown. The learning-based model described here demonstrates that a mechanism using only the dynamic activity in recurrent networks is sufficient to account for the observed phenomena. The temporal activity patterns of neurons in the model match those of real memory-associated neurons, while the model's gating properties and attractor dynamics provide explanations for puzzling aspects of the experimental data.
Heat Stress Illness Emergency Department Visits in National Environmental Public Health Tracking States, 2005-2010.

Variability of heat stress illness (HSI) by urbanicity and climate region has rarely been considered in previous HSI studies. We investigated temporal and geographic trends in HSI emergency department (ED) visits in CDC Environmental Public Health Tracking Network (Tracking) states for 2005–2010. We obtained county-level HSI ED visit data for 14 Tracking states. We used the National Center for Health Statistics Urban–Rural Classification Scheme to categorize counties by urbanicity as (1) large central metropolitan (LCM), (2) large fringe metropolitan, (3) small–medium metropolitan, or (4) nonmetropolitan (NM). We also assigned counties to one of six US climate regions. Negative binomial regression was used to examine trends in HSI ED visits over time across all counties and by urbanicity for each climate region, adjusting for pertinent variables. During 2005–2010, there were 98,462 HSI ED visits in the 14 states. ED visits for HSI decreased 3.0 % (p < 0.01) per year. Age-adjusted incidence rates of HSI ED visits increased from most urban to most rural. Overall, ED visits were significantly higher for NM areas (IRR = 1.41, p < 0.01) than for LCM areas. The same pattern was observed in all six climate regions; compared with LCM, NM areas had from 14 to 90 % more ED visits for HSI. These findings of significantly increased HSI ED visit rates in more rural settings suggest a need to consider HSI ED visit variability by county urbanicity and climate region when designing and implementing local HSI preventive measures and interventions.
Maternal antibodies and developing blood-brain barrier.

We briefly review the protective role of maternal antibodies during fetal development and at early postnatal stages. We describe antibody delivery to fetuses, particularly in the context of the developing blood–brain barrier (BBB), and present the essential concepts regarding the adult BBB, together with existing information on the prenatal developing BBB. We focus on maternal antibody transfer to the developing brain and the consequences of the presence of pathogenic antibodies at early stages of brain development on subsequent brain dysfunction.
Seasonal cues induce phenotypic plasticity of Drosophila suzukii to enhance winter survival

As global climate change and exponential human population growth intensifies pressure on agricultural systems, the need to effectively manage invasive insect pests is becoming increasingly important to global food security. Drosophila suzukii is an invasive pest that drastically expanded its global range in a very short time since 2008, spreading to most areas in North America and many countries in Europe and South America. Preliminary ecological modeling predicted a more restricted distribution and, for this reason, the invasion of D. suzukii to northern temperate regions is especially unexpected. Investigating D. suzukii phenology and seasonal adaptations can lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms through which insects express phenotypic plasticity, which likely enables invasive species to successfully colonize a wide range of environments. We describe seasonal phenotypic plasticity in field populations of D. suzukii. Specifically, we observed a trend of higher proportions of flies with the winter morph phenotype, characterized by darker pigmentation and longer wing length, as summer progresses to winter. A laboratory-simulated winter photoperiod and temperature (12:12 L:D and 10 °C) were sufficient to induce the winter morph phenotype in D. suzukii. This winter morph is associated with increased survival at 1 °C when compared to the summer morph, thus explaining the ability of D. suzukii to survive cold winters. We then used RNA sequencing to identify gene expression differences underlying seasonal differences in D. suzukii physiology. Winter morph gene expression is consistent with known mechanisms of cold-hardening such as adjustments to ion transport and up-regulation of carbohydrate metabolism. In addition, transcripts involved in oogenesis and DNA replication were down-regulated in the winter morph, providing the first molecular evidence of a reproductive diapause in D. suzukii. To date, D. suzukii cold resistance studies suggest that this species cannot overwinter in northern locations, e.g. Canada, even though they are established pests in these regions. Combining physiological investigations with RNA sequencing, we present potential mechanisms by which D. suzukii can overwinter in these regions. This work may contribute to more accurate population models that incorporate seasonal variation in physiological parameters, leading to development of better management strategies.
THE EVOLUTION OF AIR-BREATHING IN PALEOZOIC GNATHOSTOME FISHES.

The orthodox view of vertebrate evolution holds that air-breathing first arose in gnathostome fishes inhabiting freshwater swamps and marshes of the Paleozoic Era (Barrell, 1916; Inger, 1957; Romer, 1966, 1967; Thomson, 1969a, 1971). Paleoclimatic evidence indicates that these aquatic environments were characterized by low levels of dissolved oxygen, at least during dry seasons, owing to the combined effects of high ambient temperature, inadequate circulation of the shallow waters by wind, and high oxygen demands of microbes and decaying vegetation (Barrell, 1916; Inger, 1957; Thomson, 1969a). In such environments, the habit of air-breathing presumably was subjected to strong selection pressures (Romer 1966, 1967; Thomson, 1971), for in the absenc,e of some auxiliary respiratory mechanism permitting the exploitation of atmospheric reservoirs of oxygen, survival seems to have been unlikely (Romer, 1966). Lungs subsequently evolved in the successful inhabitants of these stagnant waters as greater and greater reliance was placed upon air-breathing to provide the oxygen necessary to support metabolism. The strongest support for the aforementioned theory comes from consideration of the distribution of contemporary airbreathing fishes. T'hese fishes reach their highest diversity in warm, shallow inland waters of the tropical lowlands (Carter, 1957; Johansen, 1970), where hypoxic conditions commonly occur (Carter and Beadle, 1931; Willmner, 1934). Since the success of these swamp-dwelling fishes is related to their ability to tap atmospheric supplies of oxygen, it seems reasonable to conclude that comparable environmental conditions during the Paleozoic must have led to the evolution of air-breathing among ancient fishes (Carter and Beadle, 1931). Moreover, the air-breathing habit is quite uncommon among contemporary fishes inhabiting, marine or estuarine environments (Carter, 1957; Johansen, 1970). Since seawater generally is well circulated and fully aerated it is regarded as unlikely that Paleozoic fishes inhabiting this medium, like Recent fishes, could have met with difficulty in satisfying their needs for oxygen (Carter, 1957; Johansen, 1970). The theory for a freshwater origin of air-breathing (and lungs) in Paleozoic vertebrates has won wide acceptance; and the pervasiveness of the theory is revealed by the fact that certain groups of vertebrates are regarded as having originated in freshwaters, despite the existence of paleontologic evidence to the contrary, largely because they possess lungs (Thomson, 1969a,b). My objective is to show that necessary conditions for the evolution of air-breathing could have existed during the Paleozoic Era in certain marine or estuarine situations; and in this way I hope to provide for a re-interpretation of many of the paleontologic data.
Search for Utopia: The Exodus of Russian Mennonites to Canada, 1917–1927

Russia. And such a condition might well have continued if it had not been for Catherine's policy of agrarian reform and colonization of depopulated provinces. In the Tsarina's " 'In struction to the Commission for Drafting a New Code of Laws' " she proclaimed, " 'Not only does Russia have an insufficient population, but it also possesses enormous tracts of land which are neither inhabitated nor cultivated. And so there cannot be
111 DIVERGENT EFFECTS OF WEIGHT LOSS AND MACRONUTRIENT COMPOSITION ON 24-HOUR LIPIDS WITH LOW-CALORIE/LOW-FAT VERSUS LOW-CARBOHYDRATE DIETS.

Introduction Diets with altered macronutrient composition have become a popular method of weight loss. Because a frequent claim made about low-carbohydrate diets relates to the beneficial effects on lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, ie lower triglycerides and higher HDL cholesterol, we sought to assess the impact of low-calorie/low-fat vs low-carbohydrate diets on fasting and 24-hour excursions of triglycerides (TGs) and free fatty acids (FFAs). Methods Thirty-five subjects were randomized to either a low-calorie/low-fat (LCAL; calorie restricted, 55% carbohydrate) or low-carbohydrate (LCARB; Results The average weight loss at 6 weeks was not significantly different by diet (−12.92 ± 7.3 and −14.47 ± 10.6 pounds) for the LCAL and LCARB groups, respectively. Twenty-four-hour TG excursions also did not differ between both groups at 6 weeks. In contrast, 24-hour FFAs were nearly twofold higher in the LCARB group (AUC, 9,864.3 ± 1711.9 vs 5,199.6 ± 1,119.1, p Conclusion Our data suggest that the effects of weight loss predominate over dietary macronutrient composition in the overall reduction of TGs. Conversely, the persistently elevated 24-hour FFA levels on the low-carbohydrate diet are likely a direct effect of differing dietary macronutrient compositions. The clinical implications of these divergent effects on lipids have not yet been defined.
Climate Change and World History: Plotting the Way Forward

Until recently world history has been written as if climate was of little importance in shaping specific outcomes. Indeed, even when historians know that climate cycles are important agents in shaping the choices available to human actors, their fear of being labeled environmentally determinist“ ” has encouraged them to disregard the role of climate. ith growing consciouW s-ness of global warming, interest in the role of climate in human history is on the rise. have selected three recent works that aI t-tempt to trace connections between the long term global cooling and warming cycles of Earth, and major phases of human devel-opment. Only at the global level, I will suggest, can we recognize how modern world has been shaped not only by human action, but also by large scale environmental transformations.
Repetitive Electrical Stimulation of Peripheral Nerve and Spinal Cord Activity

AbstractSpinal cord neuron and dorsal column fiber responses to electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve in anesthetized cats were recorded before, during, and after periods of repetitive electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve through an implantable nerve cuff stimulator device of the type and method used in human patients for pain relief. In previous publications from this laboratory using similar experimental conditions, we reported that repetitive electrical stimulation of the peripheral nerve suppressed all components of the compound action potential of nerves. The present study corrfmns that 5 percent of the spinal cord units studied showed facilitated discharge, 46 percent showed inhibited or depressed discharge, 36 percent underwent no change, and 13 percent showed equivocal responses to repetitive electrical stimulation. Inhibition of dorsal column fiber activity following repetitive electrical stimulation of peripheral nerve is not consistent with the Melzack-Wall gate hypothesis in which...
Spectral and Photochemical Assessments of Interactions of the Flavin Ring System with Amino Acid Residues

The light-reactivity of flavins has been of interest since the recognition that the vitamin B2 activity extracted from natural materials was attributable to yellow, fluorescent compounds, which were subsequently found to function as oxidation-reduction coenzymes bound to appropriate proteins (1).
Osteochondral scaffold combined with aligned nanofibrous scaffolds for cartilage regeneration

Osteochondral defect repair poses a significant challenge in its reconstruction as the damage is presented in both articular cartilage and the underlying subchondral bone. Tissue engineering approaches have utilized various scaffolds in combination of stem cells and growth factors to regenerate the defect. Still a significant challenge remains in creating a scaffold structure that supports the proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) into chondrocytes and osteoblasts while providing the appropriate mechanical stability. The present manuscript reports the fabrication and characterization of a biphasic scaffold system derived from biodegradable polymers such as poly(lactic acid-glycolic acid) (PLGA) as a hard shell and polycaprolactone (PCL) a soft component. Collectively this biphasic scaffold was able to withstand physiological loads up to 10000 cycles in a cyclic compressive test. The scaffold surface was decorated with PCL aligned nanofibers contacting chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid and nanofibers were cross-linked via carbodiimide linkages to retain these bioactive molecules over the culture period. The present study aims to show the potential of these bioactive scaffolds for the repair of osteochondral defects. Scaffolds were characterized by Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, optical microscopy and cyclic compressive testing. Primary rat bone marrow stem cells were seeded onto scaffolds and cell proliferation and differentiation was evaluated using RTPCR and immunohistochemistry. RT-PCR indicated that the scaffold was able to stimulate the different regions of osteochondral tissue: collagen type II and aggrecan expression in the cartilage region and BMP-2 in the bone region. Similarly protein secretion with induced alignment was confirmed with immunofluorescence imaging. This novel hybrid scaffold shows promising results in the regeneration of cartilage tissue as well as the underlying subchondral bone.
Television News and the Supreme Court: Which Decisions Are Reported? It's the Issue, Stupid!

“They're more driven to stories that will produce ratings, and, therefore, they may be evaluating stories not on the basis of their importance, but how they'll play – whether it meets sort of a bar-stool test, whether people will fall off their bar-stools when they see the story coming on television.” Carl Stern, former NBC news correspondent The data we have presented throughout this volume make very clear that the networks' primary interest in the Court is focused on its docket and the decisions that are handed down each term. Further, as chapter 5 has illustrated, the Court's rulings in the terms' leading cases were the primary focal point of network news coverage. It was equally clear, though, that only a small proportion of cases, even of these leading cases, were reported during each of the terms in our analysis. The question remains, then, what influences the choice of which cases to cover? There have been others before us who have examined this question empirically, and their work is discussed briefly below. This research, while noteworthy, has been infrequent and limited in a number of ways. We then turn to our own analysis of the factors related to the coverage by the three networks of the cases that were granted certiorari and eventually decided on their merits with full opinions during the 1989 term. Our effort builds on and attempts to overcome many of the limitations in the previous research and has enabled us to understand more precisely how the choice of which cases to report is made by network news personnel.
Liver transplantation for fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma: A national perspective

Background Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma (FL-HCC) is a rare primary liver tumor that usually presents in younger patients without underlying liver disease. Methods We queried the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) database between October 1988 and January 2013 to evaluate outcomes in patients with FL-HCC undergoing liver transplantation in the United States compared to patients with conventional Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Results Sixty-three patients were identified (57% female, mean age 30 years). Only one patient (2%) had an associated Hepatitis C Virus. Mean Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score at the time of transplantation was 11.3. Mean waiting time was 325 days and mean cold ischemic time was 6 hr. Overall survival of FL-HCC patients at 1, 3, and 5 years was 96%, 80%, and 48% as compared to HCC patients whose rates were 89%, 77%, and 68%. Six patients had tumor recurrence (10%). The Cox Model demonstrated that MELD and cold ischemic time are the strongest predictors of overall survival in FL-HCC patients. Age and wait time were not associated with poor patient survival in this series. Conclusions Good results can be obtained in selected patients transplanted for FL-HCC. FL-HCC patients had similar survival compared to those transplanted for HCC. J. Surg. Oncol. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Social Status, Legal Status and Legal Privilege

In the early second century AD, the Roman senator Pliny congratulated the governor of Baetica, Calestrius Tiro, on his administration of justice.
Dark Side Case: Trickster Devices - Misappropriating Cultural Capital

Cultural capital was introduced by Pierre Bourdieu as a way to describe how people can draw upon a deep understanding of their own culture and use their deep cultural knowledge to bring parity to t...
Cognitive persistence: Development and validation of a novel measure from the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.

Abstract The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) has long been used as a neuropsychological assessment of executive function abilities, in particular, cognitive flexibility or “set-shifting”. Recent advances in scoring the task have helped to isolate specific WCST performance metrics that index set-shifting abilities and have improved our understanding of how prefrontal and parietal cortex contribute to set-shifting. We present evidence that the ability to overcome task difficulty to achieve a goal, or “cognitive persistence”, is another important prefrontal function that is characterized by the WCST and that can be differentiated from efficient set-shifting. This novel measure of cognitive persistence was developed using the WCST-64 in an adult lifespan sample of 230 participants. The measure was validated using individual variation in cingulo-opercular cortex function in a sub-sample of older adults who had completed a challenging speech recognition in noise fMRI task. Specifically, older adults with higher cognitive persistence were more likely to demonstrate word recognition benefit from cingulo-opercular activity. The WCST-derived cognitive persistence measure can be used to disentangle neural processes involved in set-shifting from those involved in persistence.
Ibuprofen protects human endothelial cell prostaglandin H synthase from hydrogen peroxide

Human endothelial cells exposed to H2O2 demonstrate decreased prostacyclin (PGI2) synthesis due to decreased prostaglandin H synthase (PGH synthase) activity. We tested the hypothesis that PGH synthase activity could be protected from H2O2 by a reversible nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Experiments demonstrate that ibuprofen if present during H2O2 exposure, protects endothelial cell PGH synthase against the decrease in prostaglandin formation caused by H2O2. Additional studies demonstrated that decreasing arachidonic acid release from cell phospholipids during H2O2 exposure did not protect PGI2 synthesis following H2O2 exposure. In other experiments, ibuprofen did not chelate Fe2+ in a conformation that inhibited the reactivity of Fe2+. In addition, ibuprofen did not scavenge HO. However, we demonstrate that ibuprofen significantly protects purified PGH synthase cyclooxygenase activity from the effects of H2O2. The results confirm the hypothesis. These findings suggest that ibuprofen displaces oxidant species from the cyclooxygenase site of PGH synthase, thereby preventing oxidation of the functional groups important for PGH synthase activity.
Mixed-integer programming models for simultaneous batching and scheduling in multipurpose batch plants

Abstract We propose two novel discrete-time mixed-integer programming models for simultaneous batching and scheduling in multipurpose batch plants with storage constraints. The proposed models adopt two different modeling approaches. The first is based on explicit labeling of batches, while the second is based on identifying possible batch size intervals for each order and the corresponding unit routings. We also present extensions that allow us to consider limited shared utilities (with both fixed and time-varying availability and cost), storage with capacity limits and stage-dependent batch sizes. Finally, we study how instance characteristics (e.g. expected number of batches per order, uniformity in unit capacities) impact the effectiveness of the proposed models. We show that by carefully selecting the model allows us to effectively solve large-scale instances.
An Analysis of Stability of the Flux Reconstruction Formulation on Quadrilateral Elements for the Linear Advection---Diffusion Equation

The Flux Reconstruction (FR) approach to high-order methods is a flexible and robust framework that has proven to be a promising alternative to the traditional Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) schemes on parallel architectures like Graphical Processing Units (GPUs) since it pairs exceptionally well with explicit time-stepping methods. The FR formulation was originally proposed by Huynh (AIAA Pap 2007-4079:1---42, 2007). Vincent et al. (J Sci Comput 47(1):50---72, 2011) later developed a single parameter family of correction functions which provide energy stable schemes under this formulation in 1D. These schemes, known as Vincent---Castonguay---Jameson---Huynh (VCJH) schemes, offer control over properties like stability, dispersion and dissipation through the variation of the VCJH parameter. Classical schemes like nodal-DG and Spectral Difference (SD) can also be recovered under this formulation. Following the development of the FR approach in 1D, Castonguay et al. (J Sci Comput 51(1):224---256, 2012) and Williams et al. (J Comput Phys 250:53---76, 2013) and Williams and Jameson (J Sci Comput 59(3):721---759, 2014) developed correction functions that give rise to energy stable FR formulations for triangles and tetrahedra. For the case of tensor product elements like quadrilaterals and hexahedra however, a simple extension of the 1D FR approach utilizing the 1D VCJH correction functions was possible and has been adopted by several authors (Castonguay in High-order energy stable flux reconstruction schemes for fluid flow simulations on unstructured grids, 2012; Witherden et al. in Comput Fluids 120:173---186, 2015; Comput Phys Commun 185(11):3028---3040, 2014). But whether such an extension of the 1D approach to tensor product elements is stable remained an open question. A direct extension of the 1D stability analysis fails due to certain key difficulties which necessitate the formulation of a norm different from the one utilized for stability analysis in 1D and on simplex elements. We have recently overcome these issues and shown that the VCJH schemes are stable for the linear advection equation on Cartesian meshes for any non-negative value of the VCJH parameter (Sheshadri and Jameson in J Sci Comput 67(2):769---790, 2016; J Sci Comput 67(2):791---794, 2016). In this paper, we have extended the stability analysis to the advection---diffusion equation, demonstrating that the tensor product FR formulation is stable on Cartesian meshes for the advection---diffusion case as well. The analysis in this paper also provides additional insights into the dependence on the VCJH parameter of the diffusion and stability characteristics of these schemes. Several numerical experiments that support the theoretical results are included.
Toxicity of single-dose oral gemcitibine in mice.

2115 The present study was conducted to determine the single-dose toxicity and toxicokinetics of gemcitabine when administered orally to mice. Gemcitabine hydrochloride, an intravenously administered chemotherapeutic antimetabolite, is a potent and specific oncolytic used for the treatment of cancer. The antiproliferative mechanism of the drug involves inhibition of DNA replication and repair by inhibiting DNA synthesis and by blocking repair mechanisms through masked chain termination. CD-1 mice (10/sex/group) were given a single oral (gavage) gemcitabine dose of 167, 333, or 500 mg/kg, and mice were euthanized 4 or 14 days postdose to determine the acute cytotoxic effects and the reversibility of compound-related effects, respectively. Data from this study were compared to data from previously conducted toxicology studies. Orally administered gemcitabine was rapidly absorbed with a time-to-peak plasma concentration of approximately 0.5 to 1.0 hours. Consistent with IV administration, metabolism of gemcitabine to difluorodeoxyuridine (dFdU) after a single-oral dose was extensive, with high plasma concentrations of dFdU relative to gemcitabine. There were no consistent gender-related differences in gemcitabine toxicokinetics. Exposure (area under the concentration vs. time curve) and maximum plasma concentration values for both gemcitabine and dFdU were not dose proportional in the dose range examined. Compound-related deaths in mice given 333 or 500 mg/kg occurred 3 to 5 days after dosing. The mortality seen in this study was attributed to adverse intestinal lesions characterized by moderate-to-marked loss of mucosal epithelium (atrophic enteropathy) throughout the entire length of the intestinal tract. Comparable exposures via IV dosing in previous mouse studies did not result in death or gastrointestinal toxicity. The enteropathy was dose-responsive in incidence and severity, but with marked variation among individual mice within compound-treated groups. In some mice that were euthanized and necropsied 4 days postdose, the intestinal changes were characterized by mucosal epithelial regeneration resulting in a normal mucosal thickness. Due to the severity of the intestinal lesions, suspected acute time of onset, and marked variation among individual mice within dose groups, it is likely that local effects due to the route of administration were important for development of the enteropathy. The systemic toxicities observed in this study were typical of those seen at these exposure levels. In summary, a single-oral dose of gemcitabine at 167, 333, or 500 mg/kg caused dose-responsive adverse intestinal lesions at exposures that were previously tolerated when the compound was adminstered IV. Toxicokinetics and systemic toxicity were consistent with data from earlier IV mouse studies.
Normal reference values for bladder wall thickness on CT in a healthy population

To determine normal bladder wall thickness on CT in patients without bladder disease. Four hundred and nineteen patients presenting for trauma with normal CTs of the abdomen and pelvis were included in our retrospective study. Bladder wall thickness was assessed, and bladder volume was measured using both the ellipsoid formula and an automated technique. Patient age, gender, and body mass index were recorded. Linear regression models were created to account for bladder volume, age, gender, and body mass index, and the multiple correlation coefficient with bladder wall thickness was computed. Bladder volume and bladder wall thickness were log-transformed to achieve approximate normality and homogeneity of variance. Variables that did not contribute substantively to the model were excluded, and a parsimonious model was created and the multiple correlation coefficient was calculated. Expected bladder wall thickness was estimated for different bladder volumes, and 1.96 standard deviation above expected provided the upper limit of normal on the log scale. Age, gender, and bladder volume were associated with bladder wall thickness (p = 0.049, 0.024, and < 0.001, respectively). The linear regression model had an R2 of 0.52. Age and gender were negligible in contribution to the model, and a parsimonious model using only volume was created for both the ellipsoid and automated volumes (R2 = 0.52 and 0.51, respectively). Bladder wall thickness correlates with bladder wall volume. The study provides reference bladder wall thicknesses on CT utilizing both the ellipsoid formula and automated bladder volumes.
Hierarchical data structures for picture storage, retrieval and classification

This chapter discusses several approaches to tackle the problem of efficiently storing and accessing a large set of pictorial data for analysis and classification. The main idea behind these approaches deals with the use of hierarchical data structures that allow different levels of picture details to be stored and analyzed. By using this hierarchy, searching and classification of pictorial data can be much faster compared with conventional, sequential storage.
Overview: Inductive and Effector Cells and Tissues of the Mucosal Immune System

Abstract Clear tenets of mucosal immunity are the requirements to develop a symbiotic relationship with our resident microbes and tolerance to innocuous food antigens while maintaining the ability to defend against invading pathogens. This involves complex relationships among commensal bacteria, viruses, and other microbes as well as layers of innate and adaptive immune mechanisms acting within the surface epithelium and deeper in the lamina propria. Over the past several years there has been an explosion of important new studies that have advanced our understanding of the microbiome and the basic mechanisms that maintain immune homeostasis. In this section of Mucosal Immunology, the chapters are focused on specific cell types and tissues as well as on unique mucosal immunological processes of oral tolerance, the induction of immunoglobulin A responses, and immunity to commensal and pathogenic intestinal microbes. In this overview, we will briefly mention a few examples of the new findings discussed and summarize the remaining topics covered in the comprehensive chapters to follow in this section.