cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Proadhesive Cytokine Immobilized on Endothelial Proteoglycan

Inflammation and normal immune responses depend on the recruitment of specific leukocyte populations. Similarly, the maturation of lymphocytes requires their trafficking from blood into the appropriate lymphoid organ at the correct time. These processes require that leukocytes bind to endothelium in a specific and selective fashion, i.e., the right leukocyte subpopulation at the right time and place. In recent years, it has become apparent that numerous molecules are involved in this process. During the last year a consensus view has emerged, based on cumulative contributions from many laboratories, which proposes that leukocytes interact with endothelium by a multistep process involving several different classes of adhesion molecules. This model, which is the starting point for the present analysis, has been reviewed in detail elsewhere (Dustin and Springer, 1991; Shimizu et al., 1992; Butcher, 1991; Zimmerman et al., 1992; Pardi et al., 1992; Schweighoffer and Shaw, 1992b), and will be restated here only briefly, as it pertains to T cells.
Mesoscale Complexations in Lithium Electrodeposition

Mechanistic understanding of lithium electrodeposition and morphology evolution is critical for lithium metal anodes. In this study, we deduce that Li deposition morphology evolution is determined by the mesoscale complexations that underlie due to local electrochemical reaction, Li surface self-diffusion, and Li-ion transport in the electrolyte. Li-ion depletion at the reaction front for higher reaction rates primarily accounts for dendritic growth with needlelike or fractal morphology. Large Li self-diffusion barrier, on the other hand, may lead to the formation of porous Li film for lower reaction rates. Enhanced ion transport in the electrolyte contributes to homogeneous deposition, thereby avoiding nucleation for Li dendrite formation. This study also demonstrates that the substrate surface roughness strongly affects dendritic growth localization over the protrusive surface features. A nondimensional electrochemical Damkohler number is further proposed, which correlates surface diffusion rate and rea...
What Is a Complication? The Philosophical and Psychological Aspects

A 56-year-old female patient with a past medical history of hypertension and type II diabetes mellitus undergoes a diagnostic aneurysm at 1 year after coil embolization of an anterior communicating artery aneurysm. Fortunately, the aneurysm had been coiled prior to rupture, and the patient had not suffered any neurological deficits. Other than some difficulty in gaining access to the right common carotid artery, the angiogram went without any particular setback. In the post-procedure recovery unit, the patient complained of left arm weakness. Upon examination, the patient was unable to move her left arm, and it had no tone. She was rushed back to the angiography suite, where she was discovered to have a thrombus in a distal MCA branch, unable to be treated. MRI showed an MCA territory infarction. She was sent back to the recovery unit, where the attending physician explained the undesired outcome and the steps which would be taken to optimize her long-term outcome with hope of regaining some function in the left arm. Was this a medical error resulting in neurological deficit, or was this a complication of the procedure?
Biphasic unbinding of Zur from DNA for transcription (de)repression in Live Bacteria

Abstract Transcription regulator on-off binding to DNA constitutes a mechanistic paradigm in gene regulation, in which the repressors/activators bind to operator sites tightly while the corresponding non-repressors/non-activators do not. Another paradigm regards regulator unbinding from DNA to be a unimolecular process whose kinetics is independent of regulator concentration. Using single-molecule single-cell measurements, we find that the behaviors of the zinc-responsive uptake regulator Zur challenges these paradigms. Apo-Zur, a non-repressor and presumed non-DNA binder, can bind to chromosome tightly in live E. coli cells, likely at non-consensus sequence sites. Moreover, the unbinding from DNA of its apo-non-repressor and holo-repressor forms both show a biphasic, repressed-followed-by-facilitated kinetics with increasing cellular protein concentrations. The facilitated unbinding likely occurs via a ternary complex formation mechanism; the repressed unbinding is first-of-its-kind and likely results from protein oligomerization on chromosome, in which an inter-protein salt-bridge plays a key role. This biphasic unbinding could provide functional advantages in Zur9s facile switching between repression and derepression.
Morphological effects on polymeric mixed ionic/electronic conductors

Mixed ion/electron conducting polymers have recently received significant interest from a number of research communities, spanning from biological to mechanical. Their ability to conduct ions and electrons in the same material enables their use in a wide range of electrochemical devices. This functionality can be used to improve performance of more traditional devices or enable completely novel ones. Herein the use of blended polymers, block copolymers, and homopolymers as mixed conducting polymer systems is discussed, with special emphasis on connecting polymer structure and morphology to mixed conduction performance. Following this discussion, the outlook for the future of this field is presented.
Measuring the Impact of Corrective Exercises on Ankle Function in Collegiate Female Soccer Players

Injuries to the ankle joint in soccer athletes are extremely common. Twenty-two female collegiate soccer athletes performed ankle corrective exercises for 3 months to attempt to establish and maint...
Myocardial Fiber Mapping of Rat Hearts, Using Apparent Backscatter, with Histologic Validation.

Abstract Myocardial fiber architecture is a physiologically important regulator of ejection fraction, strain and pressure development. Apparent ultrasonic backscatter has been shown to be a useful method for recreating the myocardial fiber architecture in human-sized sheep hearts because of the dependence of its amplitude on the relative orientation of a myofiber to the angle of ultrasonic insonification. Thus, the anisotropy of the backscatter signal is linked to and provides information about the fiber orientation. In this study, we sought to determine whether apparent backscatter could be used to measure myofiber orientation in rodent hearts. Fixed adult-rat hearts were imaged intact, and both a transmural cylindrical core and transmural wedge of the left ventricular free wall were imaged. Cylindrical core samples confirmed that backscatter anisotropy could be measured in rat hearts. Ultrasound and histologic analysis of transmural myocardial wedge samples confirmed that the apparent backscatter could be reproducibly mapped to fiber orientation (angle of the fiber relative to the direction of insonification). These data provided a quantitative relationship between the apparent backscatter and fiber angle that was applied to whole-heart images. Myocardial fiber architecture was successfully measured in rat hearts. Quantifying myocardial fiber architecture, using apparent backscatter, provides a number of advantages, including its scalable use from rodents to man, its rapid low-cost acquisition and minimal contraindications. The method outlined in this study provides a method for investigators to begin detailed assessments of how the myocardial fiber architecture changes in preclinical disease models, which can be immediately translated into the clinic.
Shedding light on inflammatory pseudotumor in children: spotlight on inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor.

Inflammatory pseudotumor is a generic term used to designate a heterogeneous group of inflammatory mass-forming lesions histologically characterized by myofibroblastic proliferation with chronic inflammatory infiltrate. Inflammatory pseudotumor is multifactorial in etiology and generally benign, but it is often mistaken for malignancy given its aggressive appearance. It can occur throughout the body and is seen in all age groups. Inflammatory pseudotumor has been described in the literature by many organ-specific names, resulting in confusion. Recently within this generic category of inflammatory pseudotumor, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor has emerged as a distinct entity and is now recognized as a fibroblastic/myofibroblastic neoplasm with intermediate biological potential and occurring mostly in children. We present interesting pediatric cases of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors given this entity’s tendency to occur in children. Familiarity and knowledge of the imaging features of inflammatory pseudotumor can help in making an accurate diagnosis, thereby avoiding unnecessary radical surgery.
Urgent Need for Research to Achieve Health Equity for Sexual and Gender Minority Youth.

* Abbreviations: SGMY — : sexual and gender minority youth LGBTQ — : lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning Sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) face multiple challenges to their mental and physical well-being, including higher rates of suicide, substance use, and victimization when compared with heterosexual and cisgender youth.1 This is not due to their being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer and/or questioning (LGBTQ), but rather is a result of shame and stigma imposed by others because of their identity. In this issue of Pediatrics , Coulter et al2 review interventions that attempt to address these health inequities for SGMY in their article titled “Mental Health, Drug, and Violence Interventions for Sexual/Gender Minorities: A Systematic Review.” Among their most important findings are that only 9 interventions met criteria for inclusion. Clearly, these findings signal an urgent need for more research. We agree with the authors’ call for inclusion of SGMY in large, population-based studies and more studies specific to SGMY with appropriate comparison groups whenever possible. This should be combined with improvements in strategies to systematically measure sexual orientation and gender identity that are both inclusive and specific, recognize that youth identification may shift developmentally, measure the spectrum of sexual orientations and gender … Address correspondence to Nadia Dowshen, MD, MSHP, Craig-Dalsimer Division of Adolescent Medicine, Buerger Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3500 Civic Center Blvd, 12th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104. E-mail: dowshenn{at}email.chop.edu
Cardiovascular Risk Profile of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell Therapy

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a novel form of immunotherapy that has been recently introduced in clinical practice for the treatment of leukemias and lymphomas after being approved by United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). The risk profile of this treatment modality is not yet fully explored. As the survival of cancer patients is expected to rise due to new therapies being brought into practice, physicians are going to encounter side effects of these therapies. This may include both short-term and long-term effects. Having a good knowledge of these side effects can help the physicians recognize in advance the at-risk population and risk stratify them accordingly. Cardiac oncology is a growing field that involves the study of interaction between novel immunotherapies and their cardiac side effects. Knowing the cardiotoxicity profile of CAR T-cell therapy will help us choose the most appropriate patient population (those who can benefit the most without being at risk of harmful effects including cardiotoxicity) for the therapy. It will also help us recognize various cardiac complications, as they arise later during the lifetime of these cancer survivors.
Parent and child perceptions of the child's health at 2, 4, 6, and 13 months after sibling intensive care or emergency department death.

Background Approximately 50,000 US infants and children die annually, leaving surviving children and families with long-lasting effects. In most studies, children's health is rated by parents, but not the children. Purpose To compare the surviving children's self-rated health with parents' ratings at 2, 4, 6, and 13 months after sibling neonatal intensive care unit/pediatric intensive care unit/emergency department death death and identify the related factors. Methods Children and their parents rated the child's health "now," "now compared with others your age," and "now versus before" the sibling's death. Sample One hundred thirty-two children (58% girls, 72% school-aged, and 50% Black non-Hispanic), 70 mothers, and 26 fathers from 71 bereaved families. Conclusions Children self-rated their health: "now" as lower than their mothers at 4, 6, and 13 months and their fathers at 2, 4, and 13 months; "now compared with others your age" as lower than their mothers at each time point and fathers at 4, 6, and 13 months; and "now versus before" their sibling's death as higher than their mothers at 4, 6, and 13 months and fathers at 6 months. Ratings did not differ by age, gender, or race/ethnicity. At 6 months, children self-rated their health "now" as higher than their fathers in families with one to two surviving children but lower than their fathers in families with three to eight surviving children. Implications for practice Parents often perceive their children as healthier than children perceive themselves after sibling death, especially in larger families. Talking with children separately can identify the children at risk for emotional and physical illnesses earlier, providing more timely and appropriate interventions and referrals.
Designing an ML-Friendly Wireless Physical Layer for Low-Power IoT

With the advent of low-power Internet of Things (IoT), there is an increase in interest for designing inference systems in the cloud that aggregate and perform machine learning tasks from the low-power sensor data. Yet, unlike traditional mobile devices, low-power clients are too battery constrained to transmit large amounts of data within short time spans, as needed for many complex inference models. In this paper, we present a vision for bridging the gap between the power-starved low-power clients and the data-starved inference engines in the cloud. We present a mechanism that takes into account the battery life of these clients and how it affects the traditional inference models.
Are Parental Alcohol Use Disorder Histories Associated With Offspring Behavior Problems at Age 2

Objective:Studies of clinical and high-risk samples have demonstrated associations between parental alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and offspring’s internalizing and externalizing behavior problems du...
Dynamic recovery observed in distinct grains within a polycrystalline nickel-based superalloy during cyclic high temperature fatigue via high energy X-ray diffraction microscopy

Abstract Elastic micromechanical fields are tracked for a nickel-based superalloy polycrystal via high energy X-ray diffraction microscopy (HEDM) and corresponding intragranular deformation metrics are determined with peak broadening analysis during cyclic high temperature loading. A low solvus, high refractory (LSHR) sample with 252 grains was subjected to uniaxial tension and held under fixed displacement while thermally cycling between 460 °C and 770 °C with intermittent HEDM characterization to study the grain average response to thermo-mechanical deformation. Elevated temperatures were found to allow for heterogeneous amounts of recovery amongst distinct grains within the sampled region, indicating complex grain interactions; the extent of recovery was greater at higher temperatures.
Modeling the Complexity of the Metastatic Niche Ex Vivo

Cancer mortality predominantly results from distant metastases that are undetectable at diagnosis and escape initial therapies to lie as dormant micrometastases for years. To study the behavior of micrometastases-how they resist initial treatments and then awaken from a dormant state-we utilize the Legacy LiverChip®, an all-human ex vivo hepatic microphysiological system. The functional liver bioreactor, comprising hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells in a 3D microperfused culture format, mimics the dormant-emergent metastatic progression observed in human patients: (a) a subpopulation of cancer cells spontaneously enter dormancy, (b) cycling cells are eliminated by standard chemotherapies, while quiescent dormant cells remain, and (c) chemoresistant dormant cells can be stimulated to emerge. The system effluent and tissue can be queried for proteomic and genomic data, immunofluorescent imaging as well as drug efficacy and metabolism. This microphysiological system continues to provide critical insights into the biology of dormant and re-emergent micrometastases and serves as an accessible tool to identify new therapeutic strategies targeting the various stages of metastasis, while concurrently evaluating antineoplastic agent efficacy for metastasis, metabolism, and dose-limiting toxicity.
Abstract PS18-45: Association between tumor mutation profile and clinical outcomes among Hispanic Latina women with triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents approximately 15-20% of all breast cancer types. It is more common among African American (AA) and Hispanic-Latina (HL) women and has more aggressive course. The biology of TNBC in HL women has been poorly characterized, but some data suggest that molecular drivers of breast cancer might be different. Chemotherapy remains the only option for those patients. There is no clinical tool to help medical oncologist with the decision about appropriate individual chemotherapy, as well as no way to predict long-term outcomes. The aim of the study was to characterize individual patient gene expression profiles and to identify the relationship with clinical outcomes.Patients and Methods: From 2012-2019, we collected formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumors (FFPE) from women with TNBC. All specimens were carefully examined by pathologists for adequacy and for a hormonal status. We analyzed gene mutation profiles of collected tumors and associated results with individual patient’s clinical history and outcomes.Results: Of 25 patients with TNBC, 24 (96%) identified as HL, one patient as NHL. Twenty-one (84%) had stage III/IV disease, and four (16%) had stage II at the diagnosis. Most commonly mutated genes were: TP53, Notch, AKT, MEP3K, PIK3CA and EGFR. Compared to other international cancer databases mostly included NHW, AA and Asian women, our study demonstrated statistically significant higher frequencies of those among HL women. With TNBC. Also a worse clinical course was among those patients whose tumor had mutations in Notch and PIK3CA. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study is the first to identify the most common genetic alterations among HL women with TNBC. Our data strongly support the notion that molecular drivers of breast cancer could be different in HL women. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the biological mechanisms behind Notch, PIK3CA mutation, might lead to a new treatment approach. Citation Format: Alexander Philipovskiy, Alok Dwivedi, Roberto Gamez, Richard McCallum, Zeina Nahleh, Renato Aguilera, Sumit Gaur. Association between tumor mutation profile and clinical outcomes among Hispanic Latina women with triple-negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Virtual Symposium; 2020 Dec 8-11; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS18-45.
Attacking Democracy Through Immigration Workplace Raids

Democracy is under attack through immigration workplace raids. Labor unions have finally come to realize that noncitizen workers—documented and undocumented—are their future. ICE raids have been timed—particularly by the Bush and Trump administrations to thwart organizing efforts. Through a process of demonizing and commodification of immigrant workers, the public has been conditioned to ignore the racial implications of ICE raids. But even a cursory examination reveals the racist effects of these enforcement efforts. However, on closer analysis reveals how these attacks are an attack on democracy as well. ICE raids are an attack on labor organizing, which in turn represents an assault on the freedom of association, freedom from discrimination, a strong middle class, and democratic acculturation.
Paclitaxel anticancer activity is enhanced by the MEK 1/2 inhibitor PD98059 in vitro and by PD98059-loaded nanoparticles in BRAFV600E melanoma-bearing mice.

Abstract Melanoma, the most malignant form of skin cancer, shows resistance to traditional anticancer drugs including paclitaxel (PTX). Furthermore, over 50% of melanoma cases express the BRAFV600E mutation which activates the MAPK pathway increasing cell proliferation and survival. In the current study, we investigated the capacity of the combination therapy of PTX and the MAPK inhibitor, PD98059, to enhance the cytotoxicity of PTX against melanoma and therefore improve treatment outcomes. Synergistic in vitro cytotoxicity was observed when soluble PTX and PD98059 were used to treat the A375 melanoma cell line as evidenced by a significant reduction in the cell viability and IC50 value for PTX. Then, in further studies, TPGS-emulsified PD98059-loaded PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared, characterized in vitro and assessed for therapeutic efficacy when used in combination with soluble PTX. The average particle size (180 nm d.), zeta potential (−34.8 mV), polydispersity index (0.081), encapsulation efficiency (20%), particle yield (90.8%), and drug loading (6.633 µg/mg) of the prepared NPs were evaluated. Also, cellular uptake and in vitro cytotoxicity studies were performed with these PD98059-loaded NPs and compared to soluble PD98059. The PD98059-loaded NPs were superior to soluble PD98059 in terms of both cellular uptake and in vitro cytotoxicity in A375 cells. In in vivo studies, using A375 challenged mice, we report improved survival in mice treated with soluble PTX and PD98059-loaded NPs. Our findings suggest the potential for using this combinatorial therapy in the management of patients with metastatic melanoma harboring the BRAF mutation as a means to improve survival outcomes.
Principles of effective altruism and ethical implications for physicians

The philosophy of effective altruism considers how to discover and implement the most impactful ways of helping others. At its best, the field of medicine is primarily interested in this same question—how to most successfully improve the well-being of others. In this essay, I will use the tenets of effective altruism—impartiality, cause prioritizsation, and cost -effectiveness—to address how physicians can do the most good possible. I discuss the major ways that physicians benefit others—directly, by treating patients, and indirectly, by contributing to efficacious charities—and consider the merits of each. By using the framework of effective altruism to think about how to maximizse their positive impact, doctors seeking to do good can do so more powerfully. Imagine being alone in a public park and seeing a small child drowning in a shallow pond. It would be easy to wade in and save the child, but doing so would ruin your shoes and suit, which cost about US$400. Should you save the child? So asks philosopher Peter Singer in his now-famous thought experiment.1 Singer’s rhetorical argument is that most people in rich countries have the opportunity to save a child by donating to efficacious charities. Just because the child is not right in front of us, he argues, does not mean that his or her life is not worth saving. Whether by supporting efforts like malaria eradication initiatives or water purification programmes, the cost of saving a life is, roughly, the same as that of a nice suit.1 …
Desynchronization of Rhythmic Burst Activity in a Simulated Neural Network

Seizure cancellation in a network model with Hodgkin-Huxley type elements was evaluated by applying different stimulation paradigms. The simulated activities of single neurons and a computed field potential during different states of the network were the basis of this evaluation. Three types of electrostimulation were investigated: hyperpolarization of the neurons, depolarization, and an electric stimulus that is proportional to the inverted field potential. We demonstrated that a seizure, represented by synchronized network activity, and consequently a large amplitude field potential, could be effectively stopped by the third type of stimulus. The depolarization and hyperpolarization paradigms failed to desynchronize the activities.
Making Democratic Governance Work: How Regimes Shape Prosperity, Welfare, and Peace

Is democratic governance good for economic prosperity? Does it accelerate progress towards social welfare and human development? Does it generate a peace-dividend and reduce conflict at home? Within the international community, democracy and governance are widely advocated as intrinsically desirable goals. Nevertheless, alternative schools of thought dispute their consequences and the most effective strategy for achieving critical developmental objectives. This book argues that both liberal democracy and state capacity need to be strengthened to ensure effective development, within the constraints posed by structural conditions. Liberal democracy allows citizens to express their demands, hold public officials to account and rid themselves of ineffective leaders. Yet rising public demands that cannot be met by the state generate disillusionment with incumbent officeholders, the regime, or ultimately the promise of liberal democracy ideals. Thus governance capacity also plays a vital role in advancing human security, enabling states to respond effectively to citizen's demands.
Raman Spectroscopy, Modeling and Simulation Studies of Carbon Nanotubes

This chapter focuses on two types of carbon nanotubes (CNTs): single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). CNTs are cylindrically-shaped carbon allotropes. They consist of a single layer of sp2-hybridized carbon atoms, giving it a hollow cylindrical shape. The majority of SWCNT samples have diameters on the order of ~1 nm and lengths on the order of microns to centimeters. MWCNTs are composed of concentric layers of SWCNTs nested inside one another, giving it a layered cylindrical shape. In the present chapter, we will provide a historical overview of CNTs and examine specifically their thermal properties as it relates to their applications to the semiconductor industry and nanoelectronics. The understanding of CNT chirality through the visualization of rolled-up graphene sheets will provide insight into the versatility and myriad thermo-mechanical and electrical properties of CNTs. We will focus on the use of Raman spectroscopy and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations to characterize and investigate the thermal characteristics of SWCNTs.
The Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in infants and children. A review and a report of 28 cases.

It is the belief of the authors that the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, although frequently misinterpreted, is not an uncommon finding in infants and children. This electrocardiographic pattern occurred approximately once among every 200 children (0.5%) referred for cardiac evaluation. Twenty-eight infants and children with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, 19 (68%) of whom were males, were arbitrarily classified into five general groups: 1) "traditional—9 cases; and those associated with 2) congenital heart disease–13 cases; 3) rheumatic heart disease–1 case; 4) familial cardiomegaiy–2 cases; and 5) disease of the central nervous system–5 cases. Only two patients were placed in more than one category. The small number in the "traditional" group (9 of 28 cases) is striking. About half of the cases studied had associated congenital heart disease, particularly Ebstein9s anomaly of the tricuspid valve. A review of reported cases with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and congenital heart disease appears to show that this syndrome may be associated with many congenital malformations of the heart, but particularly with dextrocardia and anomalies of the tricuspid valve (Ebstein9s malformation and tricuspid atresia). The association of the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome with diseases of the central nervous system and with congenital anomalies in other areas of the body is noted. Fourteen of the patients (50%) had episodes of tachycardia, and paroxysms of tachycardia were suspected in two others. Digitalis preparations have proved to be efficacious in terminating the bouts of tachycardia in children. The prognosis in those individuals without any other congenital anomaly is usually good. On the basis of this study, the authors consider that every child with this electrocardiographic pattern should be investigated for additional abnormalities.
Integrating A Project Management Approach To E-Business Application Course

Teaching students project managements requires a hands-on approach. Incorporating project management concepts and processes into a student team Web development project adds a dimension that exposes students to the realities of effective Web development. This paper will describe the project management approach used in a Web development course in which students build complete Websites. Based upon the written evaluations included with the final project documentation, students feel this project is the most valuable learning experience of the course. Furthermore, a positive relationship is established between the actual Web development and effective project management processes. It is important for students to understand the triple constraints (scope, time, and cost) that must be balanced in business projects.
Transnational Family Separation: A Framework for Analysis

Existing scholarly literature and public discussions in sending and receiving countries often attempt to assess the costs and benefits of transnational family separation, not from the point of view of the participants but by universalising notions of motherhood and fatherhood without recognising different familial contexts and traditions. Such universalisation often results in separated families being defined as pathological, and transnational parents being blamed for the problems of youth left behind. Immigrant parents, on the other hand, often create a cost–benefit calculus based on fragmentary and inaccurate information and use this calculus to influence their transnational parenting practices to mitigate the costs of their separation from their children. In this article, we argue for the importance of context in understanding the impact of transnational family separation and propose a framework for assessing costs and benefits from the points of view not only of parents but also of others in the trans...
Thebes Revisited: Theodicy and the Temporality of Evil

This essay gives a close reading of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex in light of Schelling's discussion of theodicy as teleology. The article raises the question of the connection between ethics and time, and it argues that ethical categories are really temporal ones, so much so that it would make little sense to posit a choice between good and evil as if there were two simultaneous options. Instead, the story of Oedipus shows us how Thebes is always to precede if one is to reach Colonus, that evil precedes and enables the good.
Monte Carlo WDM network identification and evaluation tool

The use of Monte Carlo means to create, simulate and evaluate WDM networks has been shown. The 8-node Cross-Cube network discovered by Monte Carlo means was found to require fewer jumps than other tested network architectures. This is to be expected, as the tool was optimizing for fewest number of jumps. Both the mesh and cube architecture were found to be more flexible in terms of different redundant connections; however, the tool could be adjusted to optimize for redundancy if desired.
Sperm chemotaxis, fluid shear, and the evolution of sexual reproduction

Chemical communication is fundamental to sexual reproduction, but how sperm search for and find an egg remains enigmatic. For red abalone (Haliotis rufescens), a large marine snail, the relationship between chemical signaling and fluid motion largely determines fertilization success. Egg-derived attractant plumes are dynamic, changing their size and shape in response to unique combinations of physical and chemical environmental features. Attractant plumes that promote sexual reproduction, however, are limited to a precise set of hydrodynamic conditions. Performance-maximizing shears are those that most closely match flows in native spawning habitats. Under conditions in which reproductive success is chronically limited by sperm availability, gametes are under selection for mechanisms that increase sperm–egg encounter. Here, chemoattraction is found to provide a cheap evolutionary alternative for enhancing egg target size without enlarging cytoplasmic and/or cell volume. Because egg signaling and sperm response may be tuned to meet specific fluid-dynamic constraints, shear could act as a critical selective pressure that drives gamete evolution and determines fitness.
Non-explosive silicic volcanism

Silicic magma can erupt quietly, as vapour-poor lava, despite petrological evidence that it once contained ample dissolved water to drive violent venting of tephra. Non-explosive eruption of lava appears to result from rapid, sub-surface gas release from magma ascending as a permeable foam. The degassed foam then collapses during extrusion. Conditions of shallow ascent, rather than pre-eruption volatile concentrations, control eruptive behaviour.
Measurement of effects of carbaryl in surface water on fecal pollution indicator bacteria by use of plate counts and respirometry

Abstract The effects of carbaryl on the fecal pollution indicator bacteria Escherichia coli and Streptococcus faecalis have been measured by both plate count and respirometric methods. Both plate counts and rate of oxygen uptake were significantly decreased in S. faecalis following exposure to carbaryl at either 1 or 5 mg 1 −1 . When E. coli was exposed to carbaryl at 5 mg 1 −1 there was no evidence of alteration of the metabolic rate. and counts decreased beginning on the third day after exposure. E. coli in the presence of 1 mg 1 −1 carbaryl showed a significantly increased metabolic rate by respirometry; however, counts also began to decrease on the third day of exposure in the plate count experiments. When the metabolic rate of E. coli (after having been exposed to 1 mg 1 −1 carbaryl for 7 days) was tested, it was found to be significantly lower than the control. Based on these data, one may expect to obtain distorted results when testing for fecal pollution indicators if carbaryl is present, or has recently been present in the water.
Aβ Associated Neuropil Changes: Correlation with Neuronal Loss and Dementia

Although genetic studies clearly implicate beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta) as a pathogenic agent in Alzheimer disease (AD), it is puzzling that the total amount of Abeta immunoreactivity does not correlate closely with neuronal loss or degree of dementia. We hypothesized that Abeta deposits could vary in the extent to which they disrupt the neuropil, and that the degree to which this occurs might then correlate with the degree of dementia. We used 3 dimensional triple immunofluorescent confocal microscopy to examine the fine structural relationships between Abeta deposits and neurites in their vicinity. In non-demented elderly, Abeta deposits were porous structures with numerous normal appearing processes coursing through them. In AD, dendrites within Abeta deposits, compared with dendrites in the surrounding neuropil, were likely to have decreased SMI32 immunoreactivity and increased Alz-50 immunoreactivity. We found that the degree to which Abeta deposits disrupt the neuropil, as assessed by local loss of SMI32 immunoreactivity, correlates closely with the amount of neuronal loss and with duration of dementia. These observations support the hypothesis that a subset of Abeta deposits contribute directly to neural system failure in AD.
On the complexity and axiomatizability of consistent database states

A database is consistent with respect to a set σ of dependencies if it has a weak instance. A weak instance is a universal relation that satisfies Σ, and whose projections on the relation schemes are supersets of the relations in the database. In this paper we investigate the complexity of testing consistency and the logics that can axiomatize consistency, relative to a fixed set Σ of dependencies. If Σ is allowed to include embedded dependencies, then consistency can be non-recursive. If Σ consists only of total dependencies, then consistency can be tested in polynomial time. The degree of the polynomial can, however, be arbitrarily high. Consistency can be axiomatized but not finitely axiomatized by equality generating dependencies. If embedded dependencies are allowed then consistency cannot be finitely axiomatized by any effective logic. If, on the other hand, only total dependencies are allowed then consistency can be finitely axiomatized by fixpoint logic.
CVD Growth of Carbon Nanotubes Directly on Nickel Substrate

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of carbon nanotubes directly on nickel substrates was carried out at different temperatures. Effects of temperature on the growth of carbon nanotubes were investigated, and the nucleation and growth mechanism of carbon nanotubes at different temperature ranges were also discussed. Based on the growth mechanism of nanotubes, small amounts of Fe nanoparticles were deposited on the nickel substrate to introduce more nucleation sites at elevated temperature, and the density of nanotubes on the surface of the substrate was greatly improved.
African American English in Appalachia: Dialect accommodation and substrate influence

Recent studies of bi-ethnic enclave dialect communities in the American South suggest that earlier versions of African American speech both accommodated local dialect norms and exhibited a persistent substratal effect from the early African-European contact situation. We examine this hypothesis by considering the sociolinguistic situation in Texana, North Carolina, a small African American community in the Smoky Mountain region of Appalachia. Though its population is only about 150 residents, it is the largest African American community in the Smoky Mountains. This study considers diagnostic sociolinguistic variables for Texana residents in order to examine the extent to which the members of this African American community align their speech with local dialect norms as the basis for evaluating the status of earlier and contemporary African American English (AAE) in Appalachia. Morphosyntactic variables examined are 3rd pl. -s attachment, 3rd sg. -s absence, copula absence, and past tense be leveling; phonological variables include rhoticity, syllable coda consonant cluster reduction, and /ai/ glide weakening. When compared to cohort white Appalachian speakers, data from older Texana residents confirm the regional accommodation of earlier AAE and at the same time point toward substrate influence in the historical development of AAE. However, unlike AAE in other enclave regional contexts, we find that the dialect of younger residents is not moving toward a supraregional norm of AAE. Instead, young speakers are accommodating several key features of Southern American English, specifically the Southern Appalachian English (AppE) variety that is characteristic of the Smoky Mountain region of North Carolina. Explanations for the attested diachronic changes as well as future trajectories of change for Texana speakers must appeal to sociopsychological factors such as regional identity and orientation to explain local community language norms.
Forecasting financial market volatility: Sample frequency vis-à-vis forecast horizon

Abstract This paper explores the return volatility predictability inherent in high-frequency speculative returns. Our analysis focuses on a refinement of the more traditional volatility measures, the integrated volatility , which links the notion of volatility more directly to the return variance over the relevant horizon. In our empirical analysis of the foreign exchange market the integrated volatility is conveniently approximated by a cumulative sum of the squared intraday returns. Forecast horizons ranging from short intraday to 1-month intervals are investigated. We document that standard volatility models generally provide good forecasts of this economically relevant volatility measure. Moreover, the use of high-frequency returns significantly improves the longer run interdaily volatility forecasts, both in theory and practice. The results are thus directly relevant for general research methodology as well as industry applications.
The Effects of a State‐Wide Media Campaign on Mammography Screening1

A media campaign was constructed to promote mammography screening in North Dakota. The media included radio and newspaper advertisements that emphasized personal vulnerability to breast cancer. Persons in northern North Dakota were exposed to the ads; persons in southern North Dakota were not. Surveys conducted after the campaign showed that intervention women were aware of the ads. A state-wide longitudinal survey (N= 383) also suggested that the campaign may have influenced women who had been screened previously to have a repeat screening. However, the ads may have adversely affected those women who had never been screened. We discuss comparisons between media attempts and other strategies that can potentially influence health behavior in rural areas.
Econometrics and empirical economics

Econometrics is useful only if it helps economists conduct and interpret empirical research on economic data. Empirical research is intrinsically an inductive activity, building up generalizations from data, and using data to test competing models, to evaluate policies and to forecast the e!ects of new policies or modi"cations of existing policies. In the past two decades, the gap between econometric theory and empirical practice has grown. There are two main reasons for this phenomenon. Theoretical econometrics has become more closely tied to mathematical statistics. Empirical economists as a whole have adopted more of a public policy focus in their research, emphasizing transparency and simplicity as hallmarks of good empirical research for communication in public policy forums (see Heckman, 2000). The average level of econometric literacy among empirical economists has declined because the perceived need for rigorous econometrics has declined. If this trend continues, theoretical econometrics will be viewed by most economists as essentially irrelevant to empirical research, and a less formal (and more confused) &practical’ econometrics will take its place } a trend well underway in some applied "elds of economics. The development of a rigorous econometric theory strongly rooted in the latest advances in statistical theory is a major improvement in the "eld. Many confusions in the earlier literature have been clari"ed by using the tools of probability theory to make sharper de"nitions and distinctions. At the same time, given the rapid progress in mathematical statistics, knowledge transfer and adaptation have become more highly rewarded activities in econometric theory, as the source "eld has expanded in depth and breadth.
Combining different design strategies for rational affinity maturation of the MICA-NKG2D interface

We redesigned residues on the surface of MICA, a protein that binds the homodimeric immunoreceptor NKG2D, to increase binding affinity with a series of rational, incremental changes. A fixed-backbone RosettaDesign protocol scored a set of initial mutations, which we tested by surface plasmon resonance for thermodynamics and kinetics of NKG2D binding, both singly and in combination. We combined the best four mutations at the surface with three affinity-enhancing mutations below the binding interface found with a previous design strategy. After curating design scores with three cross-validated tests, we found a linear relationship between free energy of binding and design score, and to a lesser extent, enthalpy and design score. Multiple mutants bound with substantial subadditivity, but in at least one case full additivity was observed when combining distant mutations. Altogether, combining the best mutations from the two strategies into a septuple mutant enhanced affinity by 50-fold, to 50 nM, demonstrating a simple, effective protocol for affinity enhancement.
Molecular cloning and radioligand binding characterization of the chemokine receptor CCR5 from rhesus macaque and human

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine if macaque represents a suitable species for the pre-clinical evaluation of novel CCR5 antagonists, such as maraviroc (UK-427,857). To do this we cloned and expressed CCR5 from rhesus macaque and compared the binding properties of [125I]-MIP-1β and [3H]-maraviroc with human recombinant CCR5. [125I]-MIP-1β bound with similar high affinity to CCR5 from macaque (Kd = 0.24 ± 0.05 nM) and human (Kd = 0.23 ± 0.05 nM) and with similar kinetic properties. In competition binding studies the affinity of a range of human chemokines for macaque CCR5 was also similar to human CCR5. Maraviroc inhibited binding of [125I]-MIP-1β to CCR5 from macaque and human with similar potency (IC50 = 17.50 ± 1.24 nM and 7.18 ± 0.93 nM, respectively) and antagonised MIP-1β induced intracellular calcium release mediated through CCR5 from macaque and human with similar potency (IC50 = 17.50 ± 3.30 nM and 12.07 ± 1.89, respectively). [3H]-maraviroc bound with high affinity to CCR5 from macaque (Kd = 1.36 ± 0.07 nM) and human (Kd = 0.86 ± 0.08 nM), but was found to dissociate ∼10-fold more quickly from macaque CCR5. However, as with the human receptor, maraviroc was shown to be a high affinity, potent functional antagonist of macaque CCR5 thereby indicating that the macaque should be a suitable species in which to evaluate the pharmacology, safety and potential mechanism-related toxicology of novel CCR5 antagonists.
Interannual variability of skill of NMC medium-range forecasts over the Pacific/North America sector

Abstract Six hundred cases of wintertime 1- to 10-day operational forecasts made by the National Meteorological Center's Medium-Range Forecasting System are examined for their variabilities in performance. In addition to hemispheric-wide assessment, the North Pacific/North America (PAC) and North Atlantic/Eurasia (ATL) sectors are also evaluated separately and compared. Tests of statistical significance of results are performed. During El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) winters, the forecast skill over the PAC sector is found significantly higher than over the ATL sector. For wintertime as a whole, the average skill over the PAC sector is also found significantly higher during ENSO winters than during non-ENSO winters. Therefore clear interannual variability in skill can be detected for the PAC sector. Within ENSO winters, the contribution to better performance in the PAC sector comes mainly when the large-scale circulation is PNA-like (where PNA stands for the dominant circulation mode of the PAC sector...