cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experience with Validation of Methodology for Immunotoxicity Assessment in Rodents

This report summarizes our experience over the past two years in selecting and validating methodology for the immunotoxicity assessment of chemicals. Methods to assess lesions of humoral or cell-mediated immunity, natural resistance and host susceptibility to tumor cell or bacterial challenge are described. A major focus of this report will be the limitations and utility of methods proposed, selection of appropriate controls; assay variation and indications for data transformation, a quality control program; correlations between altered immune function and susceptibility to bacterial or tumor cell challenge; the concept of a functional immune reserve and its estimation; and, the need for an international interlaboratory validation of methods.
Comments, Dialogue and Supplemental Reading: South Central Africa

This chapter critiques the use of archaeological evidence in the preceding case study of bushcraft in Iron Age Zambia. Commentary focuses on issues of data quality from published sources and the use of chronological estimates from radiocarbon dating. The discussion highlights the difficulty of working with published faunal assemblages, especially when attempting to address questions and issues that differ from the original research. Additionally, suggestions for other ways of deploying archaeological data are offered, exploring the use of individual deposits as well as house and village assemblages. The use of particular household deposits guides the revised narrative at the end of the chapter, which reveals a remarkable nexus between archaeological deposits and historical linguistic reconstructions.
Blunt cardiac trauma: Clinical manifestations and management

In conclusion, blunt cardiac trauma is the leading cause of fatalities following motor vehicle accidents. Although many of the patients with anatomic cardiac injuries die at the scene, with improved prehospital care these patients have more likelihood of surviving the first hour and presenting to an emergency room alive for definitive treatment. Prompt recognition of the injury based on the mechanism and a high index of suspicion must lead to immediate surgical intervention in order for these patients to survive. Patients with functional cardiac injuries (myocardial contusion/concussion) usually present a much less urgent scenario. They should be triaged early on the basis of admission ECG and severity of pre-existing or associated injuries to appropriately monitored units. This will allow better allocation of scarce hospital resources rather than blindly pursuing "routine" (expensive) work-ups. The sequelae of these injuries are generally nonfatal. If serious sequelae do arise in the ICU or in the OR, prompt treatment with inotropic support is usually successful.
Computer-assisted semen analysis: evaluation of method and assessment of the influence of sperm concentration on linear velocity determination.

Semen samples from 77 men were used to estimate the accuracy and precision of measurements of sperm density, percent motility, and motion characteristics using a new, fully automated, computer-assisted semen analyzer (CASA). Results are compared with traditional semen analysis methodology. Acceptable precision for count and percent motility was obtained using three to nine random fields of observation when there were more than 10 cells per high-power microscopic field. A highly significant correlation (P
The Phase Diagram of the One-Dimensional Extended Hubbard Model

For a wide range of its three parameters — the Coulomb interactions U and V and the band filling ρ — we obtain the phase diagram of one-dimensional, “conventional” extended Hubbard model by combining previously known weak-coupling results with strong coupling perturbation theory, quantum Monte Carlo (QMC), and exact diagonalization) simulations. Our results establish the existence of a variety of phases, including several not predicted by weak coupling arguments. We delineate, for all ρ, the regions of the U, V parameter plane in which the model exhibits the “Luttinger Liquid” behavior expected for a strongly correlated, one-dimensional metal. In other regions, we establish the nature of the dominant fluctuations and, if relevant, the broken symmetry ground states. We evaluate the charge-charge, spin-spin, and superconducting pairing susceptibilities and correlation functions and calculate the charge correlation exponent, K ρ. Our results are generally consistent with, but substantially extend, previous analyses based on QMC, exact diagonalization, and renormalization group studies.
Introduction: Humanity’s Urge to Understand

Deep within all of us is the need to understand our world. The scientific method comprises the techniques many careful thinkers have developed over two millennia to develop our current knowledge about nature’s laws. This book will describe these methods, illustrating how eight great scientists used this core of wisdom and their own intuition to make their discoveries.
Dramatic Palliation for Painful, Fixed Bladder Squamous Cell Carcinoma with 5-Fluorouracil Infusion

A case of an exquisitely painful squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder is reported. The pain progressed and rectal obstruction developed during palliative radiotherapy. With less than 7 days of infusion chemotherapy the patient became totally free of pain, with subjective and objective relief of the rectal obstruction (avoiding colostomy).
A Consilience-Based Approach to Engineering Services in Global Supply Chains

Technology life cycles are becoming shorter as is the time for those technologies to become ubiquitous in the society. The Industrial Revolution took about 150 years; but the computer revolution took only 50 years. Cell phones, which hit the market in the early 1980s took only 25 years to become a global phenomenon. Computers and cell phones are two examples of a growing number of products that marry hardware, software, communications, and physical components into what are called cyber physical systems. Even though humans are, for the most part, only users of these systems, they are already having a considerable impact on the evolution of society. In this paper, we focus on the next stage of that evolution, cyber-physical systems. We also focus on changes in how these systems are engineered. Formally designed only by OEMs, these systems are now engineered across the supply chain. A number of companies now provide engineering services. We discussed a number of existing approaches to systems engineering and concluded that they are inadequate. Finally, we propose a new, consilience-based approach that draws on the disciplines and practices that can inform and help resolve those inadequacies.
Flow of groundwater in fractured rocks

A pervasive problem in dealing with fractured rocks is the importance of the flow of ground water through the discontinuities. This paper describes the results of recent work in this laboratory to investigate this problem. A much better understanding of the physics of fluid flow in a natural fracture from a sample of granite has been obtained from metal casts of the complex topography of the surfaces of the fracture as it is subjected to normal stresses up to 85 MPa. Contact area within the deforming aperture increases up to 30 percent and produces a flow regime that cannot be described by the cubic law. An investigation of flow in a network of fractures using a new numerical technique has been carried out to determine the effect of length and density of fractures on permeability. Networks with shorter fracture lengths and higher density will have lower permeabilities and will behave less like porous media than networks with longer fracture lengths and lower density. As fracture length increases, permeability approaches a maximum that can be predicted on the basis of infinite length fractures. A new analytical solution for transient flow to a borehole that penetrates a fracture dominated rock mass is summarized. A new derivative method of analyzing pressure transients from this solution is discussed and enables one to distinguish a fracture dominated system from one that exhibits double-porosity behavior.
Personal agency in feminist theory: Evicting the illusive dweller

The growing impact of feminist scholarship, activism, and politics would benefit substantially from input by radical behaviorists. The feminist community, broadly defined, and radical behaviorists share interesting commonalities that suggest a potentially fruitful alliance. There are, however, points of divergence that must be addressed; most prominently, the construct of personal agency. A behavioral reconstruction of personal agency is offered to deal with the invisible contingencies leading to gender-asymmetric interpretive repertoires. The benefits of a mutually informing fusion are discussed.
Bilateral diabetic thigh muscle infarction

A 19-year-old woman with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus developed pain and tenderness in the medial aspect of the left thigh and calf, followed 1 week later by similar symptoms in the right leg. Technetium 99m pyrophosphate (PYP) radionuclide scans showed increased flow and uptake in the medial thigh muscles. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the thigh showed increased signal on proton density and T2-weighted images in the medial and lateral thigh compartments. High-resolution B-mode ultrasound showed hyperechoic changes in the anteromedial thigh muscles, with loss of normal myofascial interfaces, and a mixed appearance, bilaterally. Two months later, after the symptoms had begun to resolve, the images had improved. This case documents bilateral diabetic thigh infarction identified by abnormal technetium 99m PYP flow studies, MRI signal, and B-mode ultrasound imaging.
A reliable MEMS switch using electrostatic levitation

In this study, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) beam is experimentally released from pull-in using electrostatic levitation. A MEMS cantilever with a parallel plate electrode configuration is pulled-in by applying a voltage above the pull-in threshold. An electrode is fixed to the substrate on each side of the beam to allow electrostatic levitation. Large voltage pulses upwards of 100 V are applied to the side electrodes to release the pulled-in beam. A large voltage is needed to overcome the strong parallel plate electrostatic force and stiction forces, which hold the beam in its pulled-in position. A relationship between bias voltage and release voltage is experimentally extracted. This method of releasing pulled-in beams is shown to be reliable and repeatable without damaging the cantilever or electrodes. The proposed approach is of great interest for any MEMS component that suffers from the pull-in instability, which is usually irreversible and permanently destroys the device, as electrostatic levitation allows pulled-in structures to be released and reused. It has a promising application in MEMS switches by creating a normally closed switch as opposed to current MEMS switches, which are normally open.
Environmental Struggles and Ecological Narratives in the Basque Country: The 20th Century Dialectics of Sustainable Materialism.

In this article, I examine the relationship between environment and political consciousness, articulating an argument that links the organic side and the economical level of environmentalist claims, and exposing some of the social movements and political positions that were coined in the Basque Country in the end of the 20 th century and beginning of the 21 st century. Some of the protests linked to environmental causes in the Basque Country fit with the narratives that give access to the new century and describe the coming concepts in the form of advent with regards to notions like sustainability, organic, energy policies, post-ideologies and even the relationship between food and environment in more recent years. In this direction, environmental movements have succeeded in confusing the materialistic goals of their claims and the very materialism implicit in nature. Thus, I claim that these movements have complied from conservative positions rather than progressist positions. Therefore, there has been an asymmetry with the ideological (non-material) portion of these claims and protests and the truly emancipatory goals of any progressist position. If the drive for sustainability can counter materialist and idealist proposals, we need to find a solution where “sustainable” means organic without the bodily part of the organic term itself.
Crop and tillage management effects on water flow and nitrate-nitrogen loss through subsurface drains

Data were collected from subsurface drains on 36, 0.4-ha plots at Iowa State University's Northeast Research Farm near Nashua, lA to determine crop and tillage management effects on water flow and nitrate-N loss through subsurface drains. From 1990 to 1992, four tillage systems (chisel plow, moldboard plow, ridge till and no-till) were used with two crop rotations (continuous com [Zea mays L.] and corn-soybean {Glycine max L. (Herr.)] rotation) and a single-spring fertilizer application. From 1993 to 1995, tillage systems were reduced to chisel plow and no-till, while fertilizer management changed to include single-spring fertilizer, spring-summer split fertilizer and fall manure application. The amount of nitrate-N lost in subsurface drainage was influenced more by subsurface drainage volume than nitrate-N concentration in drain effluent. Tillage had minimal effects on drainage volume, although no-till plots showed greater preferential flow than chisel plow plots. Significant differences in drain flow only occurred under continuous corn between 1990 and 1992, when the no-till system had higher drain flow than moldboard plow. Tillage affected nitrate-N concentrations in drain effluent during 1990 to 1992. Moldboard plow plots had higher concentrations than no-till plots possibly because of differences in bypass flow, denitrification and mineralization. Nitrate-N concentrations were not influenced by tillage after management systems were changed. However, plots where continuous corn had been grown for 15 yr had higher drain flows and nitrate-N losses in 1993 than where com was planted into plots that had been rotated with soybean.
Perspectives on US - RSA relations

The Reagan administration promises a new approach to southern African issues. Ken Owen, former Washington correspondent and Managing Editor of the Johannesburg Rand Daily Mail, reviews the African policies of past administrations and discusses possible southern African policy directives under a new administration.
Metal- and solvent-free synthesis of aminoalcohols under continuous flow conditions

The use of multifunctional organocatalysts and continuous flow platforms are commonplace in modern chemical transformation. Herein, we describe a method for immobilization of trifunctional organocatalysts on porous composite hollow fibers and demonstrate their application as heterogeneous catalysts and continuous-flow microfluidic reactors for chemical transformation. Polyamide-imide hollow fibers (PAIHFs) are functionalized with aminosilanes and a bromine source to immobilize covalent hydrogen-bond donor groups (–OH and –NH) and nucleophilic [Br−] species on the fiber surface and provide trifunctional acid–base–nucleophilic organocatalysts and microfluidic reactors. The cooperative effects of the Br/APS/PAIHF trifunctional organocatalysts are elucidated in the CO2 cycloaddition and hydroxyalkylation of aniline in batch and continuous flow synthesis. Our results indicated that the synergistic cooperative effects of trifunctional organocatalysts on PAIHFs lead to a maximum 1-(phenylamino)propan-2-ol selectivity of 97.1% at 61% aniline conversion and 0.02 cm3 min−1 flow rate. While knowledge of the acid–base–nucleophilic trifunctional cooperativity is still limited, these findings demonstrate useful structure–property trends that can be used to design more efficient organocatalysts for sustainable chemical transformation.
Facilitators, barriers, and recommendations related to the informed consent of Marshallese in a randomized control trial

BackgroundThe Pacific Islander population is the second fasting growing population in the United States and Arkansas is home to the largest Marshallese population in the continental US. The Marshal...
Analytical modeling of axial oscillation-supported drillstrings in high-angle wells

Abstract Downhole vibrations generated from axial oscillation tools (AOTs) in axial oscillation-supported drillstrings (AOSDs) has become one of the efficient means of reducing friction and improving weight transfer during sliding operations in horizontal and extended-reach wells. Dynamic modeling of AOT-excited drillstrings is needed for validating the functionality of axial oscillation tools during surface tests and predicting their response under downhole conditions. An analytical model is presented in this study to predict the behavior of axial oscillation-supported drillstrings working under downhole and surface conditions. The model is useful to perform parametric studies, downhole data correlation and placement study of AOTs along the drillstring in horizontal and extended-reach wells. Unlike existing models, the nonlinear equation of motion is derived from a model damped in a viscous medium with Coulomb friction and subjected to displacement excitation. The model also accounts for the spring rate of the axial oscillation tool. The displacement excitation is obtained from the spring rate, which is a critical input to the model. The nonlinear damping is approximated with an equivalent viscous damping coefficient to obtain an analytical solution. The developed model in this study is validated with published experimental measurements obtained from field-scale drillstrings. Correlations between predicted and measured axial displacement and accelerations at different excitation frequencies, pressure drops and spring rates show an approximate average deviation of 14.5%. Also, results from this study strongly accentuates that flow rate is the most critical operating parameter for axial oscillation tools because it affects the amplitude of pressure drop, excitation force, and operating frequency of AOTs.
Weekend Effect in the Management and Outcomes of Acute Myocardial Infarction in the United States, 2000-2016.

Objective To assess the effects of weekend admission vs weekday admission on the management and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods Adult ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-STEMI (NSTEMI) hospital admissions were identified using the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample (2000-2016). Interhospital transfers were excluded. Timing of coronary angiography (CA) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) relative to the day of admission was identified. Outcomes of interest included in-hospital mortality, receipt of early CA, timing of CA and PCI, resource utilization, and discharge disposition for weekend vs weekday admissions. Results Of the 9,041,819 AMI admissions, 2,406,876 (26.6%) occurred on weekends. Compared with 2000, in 2016 there was an increase in weekend STEMI (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.12; 95% CI, 1.08-1.16; P<.001) but not NSTEMI (aOR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.98-1.02; P=.21) admissions. Compared with weekday admissions, weekend admissions received comparable CA (59.9% vs 58.8%) and PCI (38.4% vs 37.6%) and specifically lower rates of early CA (hospital day 0) (26.0% vs 20.8%; P<.001). There was a steady increase in CA and PCI use during the 17-year period. Mean ± SD time to CA was higher in the weekend group vs the weekday group (1.2±1.8 vs 1.0±1.8 days; P<.001). Weekend admission did not influence in-hospital mortality (aOR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00-1.01; P=.05) but had fewer discharges to home (58.7% vs 59.7%; P<.001). Conclusion Despite small differences in CA and PCI, there were no differences in in-hospital mortality of AMI admissions on weekdays vs weekends in the United States in the contemporary era.
Posterior Model Adaptation With Updated Priors

Classification approaches based on the direct estimation and analysis of posterior probabilities will degrade if the original class priors begin to change. We prove that a unique (up to scale) solution is possible to recover the data likelihoods for a test example from its original class posteriors and dataset priors. Given the recovered likelihoods and a set of new priors, the posteriors can be re-computed using Bayes' Rule to reflect the influence of the new priors. The method is simple to compute and allows a dynamic update of the original posteriors.
Promutagenic bypass of 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoadenine by translesion synthesis DNA polymerase Dpo4

Reactive oxygen species induced by ionizing radiation and metabolic pathways generate 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (oxoG) and 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoadenine (oxoA) as two major forms of oxidative damage. The mutagenicity of oxoG, which promotes G to T transversions, is attributed to the lesion's conformational flexibility that enables Hoogsteen base pairing with dATP in the confines of DNA polymerases. The mutagenesis mechanism of oxoA, which preferentially causes A to C transversions, remains poorly characterized. While structures for oxoA bypass by human DNA polymerases are available, that of prokaryotic DNA polymerases have not been reported. Herein, we report kinetic and structural characterizations of Sulfolobus solfataricus Dpo4 incorporating a nucleotide opposite oxoA. Our kinetic studies show oxoA at the templating position reduces the replication fidelity by ∼560-fold. The catalytic efficiency of the oxoA:dGTP insertion is ∼300-fold greater than that of the dA:dGTP insertion, highlighting the promutagenic nature of oxoA. The relative efficiency of the oxoA:dGTP misincorporation is ∼5-fold greater than that of the oxoG:dATP misincorporation, suggesting the mutagenicity of oxoA is comparable to that of oxoG. In the Dpo4 replicating base pair site, oxoA in the anti-conformation forms a Watson-Crick base pair with an incoming dTTP, while oxoA in the syn-conformation assumes Hoogsteen base pairing with an incoming dGTP, displaying the dual coding potential of the lesion. Within the Dpo4 active site, the oxoA:dGTP base pair adopts a Watson-Crick-like geometry, indicating Dpo4 influences the oxoA:dGTP base pair conformation. Overall, the results reported here provide insights into the miscoding properties of the major oxidative adenine lesion during translesion synthesis.
MicroRNA-130a Is Elevated in Thyroid Eye Disease and Increases Lipid Accumulation in Fibroblasts Through the Suppression of AMPK.

Purpose Thyroid eye disease (TED) is a condition that causes the tissue behind the eye to become inflamed and can result in excessive fatty tissue accumulation in the orbit. Two subpopulations of fibroblasts reside in the orbit: those that highly express Thy1 (Thy1+) and those with little or no Thy1 (Thy1-). Thy1- orbital fibroblasts (OFs) are more prone to lipid accumulation than Thy1+ OFs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanisms whereby Thy1- OFs more readily accumulate lipid. Methods We screened Thy1+ and Thy1- OFs for differences in microRNA (miRNA) expression. The effects of increasing miR-130a levels in OFs was investigated by measuring lipid accumulation and visualizing lipid deposits. To determine if adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is important for lipid accumulation, we performed small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of AMPKβ1. We measured AMPK expression and activity using immunoblotting for AMPK and AMPK target proteins. Results We determined that miR-130a was upregulated in Thy1- OFs and that miR-130a targets two subunits of AMPK. Increasing miR-130a levels enhanced lipid accumulation and reduced expression of AMPKα and AMPKβ in OFs. Depletion of AMPK also increased lipid accumulation. Activation of AMPK using AICAR attenuated lipid accumulation and increased phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in OFs. Conclusions These data suggest that when Thy1- OFs accumulate in TED, miR-130a levels increase, leading to a decrease in AMPK activity. Decreased AMPK activity promotes lipid accumulation in TED OFs, leading to excessive fatty tissue accumulation in the orbit.
Acute Talar Cartilage Deformation in Those with and without Chronic Ankle Instability.

Purpose This study aimed 1) to determine whether talar cartilage deformation measured via ultrasonography (US) after standing and hopping loading protocols differs between chronic ankle instability (CAI) patients and healthy controls and 2) to determine whether the US measurement of cartilage deformation reflects viscoelasticity between standing and hopping protocols. Methods A total of 30 CAI and 30 controls participated. After a 60-min off-loading period, US images of the talar cartilage were acquired before and after static (2-min single-leg standing) and dynamic (60 single-leg forward hops) loading conditions. We calculated cartilage deformation by assessing the change in average thickness (mm) for overall, medial, and lateral talar cartilage. The independent variables include time (Pre60 and postloading), condition (standing and dynamic loading), and group (CAI and control). A three-way mixed-model repeated-measures ANCOVA and appropriate post hoc tests were used to compare cartilage deformation between the groups after static and dynamic loading. Results After the static loading condition, those with CAI had greater talar cartilage deformation compared with healthy individuals for overall (-10.87% vs -6.84%, P = 0.032) and medial (-12.98% vs -5.80%, P = 0.006) talar cartilage. Similarly, the CAI group had greater deformation relative to the control group for overall (-8.59% vs -3.46%, P = 0.038) and medial (-8.51% vs -3.31%, P = 0.043) talar cartilage after the dynamic loading condition. In the combined cohort, cartilage deformation was greater after static loading compared with dynamic in overall (-8.85% vs -6.03%, P = 0.003), medial (-9.38% vs -5.91%, P = 0.043), and lateral (-7.90% vs -5.65%, P = 0.009) cartilage. Conclusion US is capable of detecting differences in cartilage deformation between those with CAI and uninjured controls after standardized physiologic loads. Across both groups, our results demonstrate that static loading results in greater cartilage deformation compared with dynamic loading.
Signal Detection to Measure Allostatic Load.

Purpose To illustrate a means to calculate allostatic load in hospitalized patients using big data from the electronic medical record (EMR). Organizing construct To describe the development of the Troubled Outcome Risk (TOR) scale using signal detection in big data. Methods Using both retrospective and prospective observational studies, I describe a mechanism to determine meaning from retrospective data then use the results to improve nursing surveillance to reduce length of stay (LOS) and nursing sensitive indicators on an inpatient medical surgical unit. Findings Results from the retrospective study contained over 290,000 individual data points and established an interpretation standard for the TOR score using an algorithm to detect signals. The prospective observational study used the TOR scale and developed an interpretation standard to assist unit charge nurses in assigning staff to patients based on a fully objective measure of patient allostatic load. Conclusions The TOR scale in conjunction with existing nurse staffing methodology reduced inpatient LOS by 0.3 days, reduced allostatic load as measured by the TOR scale, and changed staffing patterns from purely geographic to patient-need based. Clinical relevance The TOR scale demonstrates that careful evidence-based criteria can be easily gathered from the EMR and used to positively impact nursing practice and patient outcomes.
Homologous and Variant-Specific Memory B-Cell and Antibody Responses after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination

Abstract Importance A better understanding of the immune memory and functional humoral immunity directed at the emerging Variants of Concern (VoC) strains after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is essential for predicting the longevity of heterotypic protection. Objective The aim of our study was to characterize functional humoral immunity (including memory B cell response) after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination and to determine/compare the reactivity of COVID-19 vaccine-induced memory B cells to the emerging SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VoC). Design, setting, participants and interventions We designed an exploratory longitudinal observational (convenience sample-based) study at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN that enrolled and followed naive subjects and recovered COVID-19 subjects from Olmsted County, MN and surrounding areas after COVID-19 vaccination in January-June 2021. The study enrolled 17 relatively healthy subjects, 59% females and 94% White/Non-Hispanic or Latino with median age at enrollment 41 years. The subjects received either the BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNtech) or mRNA-1273 (Moderna) vaccine (n=3) and provided a blood sample at baseline, at ∼3 weeks after their first vaccine dose/before the second dose, and at ∼2 weeks after the receipt of their second vaccine dose. Main outcomes and measures Spike-specific humoral and memory B cells responses were assessed over time after vaccination against the original Wuhan-Hu-1/vaccine and against emerging VoC strains/antigens. Results We observed a robust neutralizing antibody response after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination, but a reduction in the functional antibody activity to several of the emerging SARS-CoV-2 VoC. Consistent with this, we also found differences in the number of isotype-switched/IgG+ MBCs responding to homologous and variant receptor-binding domain/RBDs after vaccination. We found a reduction of MBCs reactive to RBDs of Beta, Gamma and Delta SARS-CoV-2 VoC strains. Conclusion and relevance In this exploratory study in subjects following receipt of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, we found differences in antibody titers observed for VoCs after vaccination that are accompanied with, and can partially be explained by, decreased MBC reactivity against the VoCs. This can further attenuate the generated recall humoral immune response upon exposure to these variants. Key Points Question What is the reactivity of COVID-19 vaccine-induced memory B cells to the emerging SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VoC)? Findings In this longitudinal cohort study of subjects receiving COVID-19 mRNA vaccine we assessed memory B cell response and functional antibody titers. We found statistically significant differences between the frequencies of memory B cells responding to homologous and VoC receptor-binding domain/RBDs after vaccination. Meaning In concert with the lowered antibody response, the reduced memory B-cell response to VoC could translate to an increased susceptibility to the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant strains in the face of waning immunity.
Literature review and comparative analysis of inland waterways transport: “Container on Barge”

Container on Barge (COB) facilitates intermodal transportation by transporting shipping containers on barge tows. COB has seen rapid expansion globally over the past 20 years, providing a cost-efficient, environmentally friendly, and congestion-reducing mode of container transportation. European countries have led COB transportation in both study and application over the past two decades. However, increasing interest is observed in both the USA and Asia. In this literature review and comparative analysis, 135 COB-focused peer-reviewed articles are reviewed and analyzed to systematically describe the development and current status of COB transportation research. The relevant literature is analyzed to reveal publication rates and titles, geographical regions of interest, research questions, applied methodologies, advantages of COB transportation, and key success factors. The aim of our effort is to provide information on various aspects of COB development among different regions in the world and to summarize the existing literature to support and guide future COB development.
Materials for lower temperature solid oxide fuel cells

The solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) continues to show great promise for the generation of electricity for an increasing range of applications. The present SOFC technology is based on an all-ceramic design, which eliminates the corrosion problems associated with fuel cells containing liquid electrolytes. To obtain good electrochemical performance with the currently used materials, this all-ceramic fuel cell operates at 1000°C. Despite a significant amount of research and several successful demonstrations at the 100 kW level, commercialisation of the technology is not as rapid as anticipated. This is, in part, due to the high operating temperatures required, necessitating the use of expensive materials. As a result of these problems, there has been an effort over the past few years to lower the SOFC operating temperature. This paper will address the issues concerning the development of new materials that can operate at lower temperatures. Many of these issues have been or are being addressed in the research performed at Argonne National Laboratory, and some recent results will be discussed.
MUTATIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE PEPTIDE SEGMENT LINKING PHOSPHORYLATION AND CA2+-BINDING DOMAINS IN THE SARCOPLASMIC RETICULUM CA2+-ATPASE

The sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase segment extending from the phosphorylation site (Asp-351) to the preceding transmembrane helix M4 (which is involved in Ca2+ binding in conjunction with transmembrane helices M5, M6, and M8) retains a marked sequence homology to the corresponding segments of other cation ATPases. We made 26 point mutations in this segment and found that nonconservative mutations of residues that are homologous in various cation ATPases result in strong inhibition of catalytic and transport function. Mutations of nonhomologous residues to match the corresponding residues of other cation ATPases are not inhibitory and, in some cases, produce higher activity. The inhibitory mutations affect the phosphorylated intermediate turnover, which is associated with the vectorial translocation of bound Ca2+. The same mutations do not affect the kinetics of ATPase activation by Ca2+ following enzyme preincubation with EGTA. This suggests that activation of the phosphoryl transfer reaction by Ca2+ binding and vectorial displacement of bound Ca2+ by enzyme phosphorylation do not occur simply as the forward and reverse directions of the same process, but are linked to distinct structural features of the enzyme. The peptide segment extending from the phosphorylation site in the enzyme extramembranous headpiece through the M4 helix in the membrane-bound region sustains a prominent role in transmission of the phosphorylation signal for displacement of bound Ca2+. A critical structural role of this segment is also demonstrated by the interference of specific mutations with membrane assembly of the expressed protein.
Static analysis for circuit families

As predicted by Gordon Moore, the number of transistors on a chip has roughly doubled every two years. Microprocessors featuring over a billion transistors are no longer science fiction. For example, Intel's Itanium 9000 series and Intel's Xeon 7400 series of processors feature 1.7 and 1.9 billion transistors respectively. To keep up with the emerging needs of contemporary very large scale integration (VLSI) design, industrial hardware description languages (HDLs) like Verilog and VHDL must be significantly enhanced. This thesis pinpoints some of the main shortcomings of the latest Verilog standard (IEEE 1364-2005) and shows how to overcome them by extending the language in a backward compatible way. To be able to cope with more complex circuits, well-understood higher-level abstraction mechanisms are needed. Verilog is already equipped with promising generative constructs making it possible to concisely describe a family of circuits as a parameterized module; however these constructs suffer from two problems: First, their expressivity is limited and second, they are not adequately supported by current tools. For instance, there are no static guarantees about the properties of the description generated as a result of instantiating a generic description with particular parameter values. Addressing both problems while remaining backward compatible led us to select a statically typed two-level languages (STTL) formal framework. By formalizing a core subset of Verilog as an STTL, we were able to define a static type system capable of: (1) checking the realizability of a description, (2) detecting bus width mismatches and array bounds violations, and (3) providing parametric guarantees on the resources required to realize a generic description. The power of the chosen framework is once more demonstrated as it also allows us to enrich the language with a new set of constructs that are designed to be expanded away when instantiated. To experiment with these ideas we implemented VPP, a Verilog Preprocessor with a built-in type checker. VPP is an unobtrusive tool accepting extended Verilog descriptions but generating descriptions compatible with any tool compliant with the Verilog standard. Our experience throughout this research showed that STTLs present a particularly suitable framework to formalize and implement generative features of a language.
Vowel Epenthesis and Consonant Deletion in Japanese Loanwords from English

The current study examines Japanese loanwords from English in the framework of optimality theory (OT). The goal of this study is to investigate which vowels native Japanese-speaking borrowers epenthesize and when they delete consonants in modifying English source words. We aim to offer (i) a unified explanation with a single ranking of constraints for vowel epenthesis and (ii) a perceptual explanation for consonant deletion. Two experiments with native Japanese speakers were conducted to support the proposed analyses. The first experiment demonstrated that, when modifying illicit phonotactics in foreign words, native Japanese speakers select epenthetic vowels based on the constraint ranking of: Complex, CodaCond >> Max-IO >> Palatal-Front, SyllableInventoryStructure (SIS), Ident-IO >> *Round, *Low >> *Front >> High >> Back >> Dep-IO. The second experiment revealed that Japanese loanwords can be subject to deletion of consonants rather than vowel epenthesis, due to the lack of perceptual salience; Japanese speakers delete consonants when they fail to perceive consonants in coda and clusters in source words, especially when the source words are aurally given.
John Paul Jones: An Overlooked Autopsy Finding that May Explain His Terminal Illness

A finding in the autopsy of John Paul Jones, the American Revolutionary War naval hero, may explain his terminal illness. During his last 2 years, he had a persistent productive cough and dyspnea. Ten days before death, he developed rapidly progressive dependent edema and ascites. He died in France in 1792. His body, preserved in alcohol in a lead coffin, was, in 1905, removed to the United States. Glomerulonephritis was noted on an autopsy, performed in France, but there was no comment then or since about ventricular wall thickness being the same in both ventricles at 5-6 mm. Hypertrophy and dilatation with biventricular failure followed by tissue shrinkage during 113 years in alcohol could have resulted in these ventricular wall findings. Systemic hypertension and left ventricular failure are consistent with his respiratory symptoms complicated perhaps by pulmonary emboli, right ventricular failure with tricuspid regurgitation, peripheral congestion, and jaundice.
Matrix Metalloproteinases: Biologic Activity and Clinical Implications

ABSTRACT: Tumor progression is a complex, multistage process by which a normal cell undergoes genetic changes that result in phenotypic alterations and the acquisition of the ability to spread and colonize distant sites in the body. Although many factors regulate malignant tumor growth and spread, interactions between a tumor and its surrounding microenvironment result in the production of important protein products that are crucial to each step of tumor progression. The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of degradative enzymes with clear links to malignancy. These enzymes are associated with tumor cell invasion of the basement membrane and stroma, blood vessel penetration, and metastasis. They have more recently been implicated in primary and metastatic tumor growth and angiogenesis, and they may even have a role in tumor promotion. This review outlines our current understanding of the MMP family, including the association of particular MMPs with malignant phenotypes and the role of MMPs in sp...
Mother tongue instruction in Lubuagan: A case study from the Philippines

In the modern era, the prevailing model of public education has been that of “one size fits all”, with private schooling being a small but notable exception. Language (of instruction) was generally viewed as a minor variable readily overcome by standard classroom instruction. As researchers have sharpened their focus on the reasons for educational failure, language has begun to emerge as a significant variable in producing gains in educational efficiency. This paper reports the intermediate result of a controlled study in a very rural area of a developing country designed to examine the effect of language of instruction on educational outcomes. In the experimental schools, children are taught to read first in the local language (via the local language) and are taught other key subjects via the local language as well. English is taught as a subject. Teachers in the control or standard schools continue the standard national practice of teaching all subjects in either English or Filipino, neither of which is spoken by children when they begin school. Year-end standardised testing was done in all subjects throughout grades one to three as a means of comparing the two programme methodologies.
Expanding the indications for septal myectomy in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: results of operation in patients with latent obstruction.

Objective Many patients with symptomatic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have minimal left ventricular outflow tract gradients, and there is uncertainty whether their limitation is due to diastolic dysfunction or labile outflow tract obstruction. The purpose of this study was to characterize the clinical presentation and outcome of septal myectomy in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and latent obstruction. Methods Among 749 patients who underwent septal myectomy, 249 had latent obstruction with minimal (0–30 mm Hg) resting gradients preoperatively. All were symptomatic and had more severe left ventricular outflow tract obstruction provoked by Valsalva maneuver or amyl nitrite inhalation during Doppler echocardiography or by stimulation with isoproterenol during catheterization. Clinical characteristics, survival, and functional outcome of these patients were compared with those of 500 patients with more severe resting left ventricular outflow tract obstruction who underwent myectomy during the same period. Results Compared with those with severe obstruction, more patients with latent obstruction were male (63% vs 52%, P P P P = .34). Self-reported late functional status was similar; 3 to 5 years postoperatively, 81% of patients with latent obstruction preoperatively were in New York Heart Association class I or II compared with 77% of patients with severe resting obstruction. Conclusions Patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who have low resting gradients and latent obstruction may have limiting symptoms comparable to those of patients with more severe resting gradients. Septal myectomy should be offered to these patients because survival and symptom relief are excellent, suggesting that dynamic obstruction is the major hemodynamic problem rather than diastolic dysfunction.
On the extensions of homogeneous polynomials

We investigate the problem of the uniqueness of the extension of n-homogeneous polynomials in Banach spaces. We show in particular that in a nonreflexive Banach space X that admits contractive projection of finite rank of at least dimension 2, for every n > 3 there exists an n-homogeneous polynomial on X that has infinitely many extensions to X**. We also prove that under some geometric conditions imposed on the norm of a complex Banach lattice E, for instance when E satisfies an upper p-estimate with constant one for some p > 2, any 2-homogeneous polynomial on E attaining its norm at x ∈ E with a finite rank band projection P x , has a unique extension to its bidual E**. We apply these results in a class of Orlicz sequence spaces.
A high-sensitivity near-millimeter-wave photoconductive detector using [Hg, Cd]Te

In an earlier paper [1], we reported the observation of photoconductivity from free-carrier absorption in [Hg, Cd]Te. By using samples of [Hg, Cd]Te with different electrical and alloy properties, we have improved the near-millimeter-wave (NMMW) responsivity by over two orders of magnitude. At 1.6 K a best sample responsivity of about 185 V/W and a bandwidth of over 5 MHz have been measured. This responsivity corresponds to a Johnson-noise-limited noise-equivalent-power (NEP) of 1.6 × 10−12\({W \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {W {\sqrt {Hz} }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\sqrt {Hz} }}\). Another sample of similar compposition yielded an NEP of 1.8 × 10−12\({W \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {W {\sqrt {Hz} }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\sqrt {Hz} }}\) and a 25 MHz bandwidth. These results coupled with a wide spectral sensitivity [1] indicate that [Hg, Cd]Te NMMW detectors compare very favorably with similar InSb detectors [2].
Meiofauna from seagrass habitats: A review and prospectus for future research

Although many studies exist which document abundances of epibenthic and sediment-dwelling macrofauna from seagrass habitats, little descriptive or experimental information is available on meiofauna from these systems. Much of this discreapancy is a result of sampling techniques or sample processing. Herein we critically review the literature on meiofauna from temperate and tropical seagrass systems and present data on meiofauna from three subcommunities within a Tampa Bay, Florida seagrass bed—seagrass blades, sediments surrounding individual culms and the water column. Four areas for future research are identified: 1) comparisons of macrofauna and meiofauna from seagrass sites and a description of their trophic interactions; 2) elucidation of relationships between meiofauna and algal epiphytes; 3) monitoring of vertical migration of meiofauna from sediments into the water column; and 4) biogeographic comparisons of 1–3 above.
Recent developments in RT-CVD technology for ULSI material processing and device fabrication: an overview

Rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition (RT-CVD) technology is strategically important for deep submicron ULSI manufacturing because of trends towards reduced thermal budget and tightened process control requirements on large diameter Si wafers, and has thus received considerable attention. In this paper, we will review the significant benefits provided by a novel in-situ multi-processing RT-CVD for IC manufacturing and the considerable progress made in developing RT-CVD as a integrated processing module capable of meeting the stringent requirements of ULSI device fabrication.