cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential effects of social influence sources on self-reported music piracy

The paper examines the effects of five major socialization agents-namely parents, peers, traditional media, the Internet, and music industry-on emerging adults' attitudes and behavior toward music piracy in the form of unauthorized downloading. Based upon self-reported behavior, our study shows that these socialization agents exert differential effects on music piracy. Specifically, peers and the Internet exert direct impact on both attitudes and behavior. Parents and music industry, however, only have indirect impact on emerging adults' piracy behavior through shaping their attitudes. The research further shows that the effects of socialization agents differ across consumer segments. A factor mixture modeling technique is first applied to disentangle the behavioral heterogeneity, and more observable factors such as demographic, social, and psychological variables are then utilized to profile members in each segment. From a managerial perspective, this research provides new avenues for managers and policy makers to design targeted prevention programs to curtail music piracy. The purpose of this project is to explain why a particular socialization agent's socialization (e.g., music industry's deterrence movements) is effective for some people, but not for others. The key findings are:Peers and the Internet exert direct impact on emerging adults' piracy attitudes and behavior.Parents and music industry, however, only have indirect impact on emerging adults' piracy behavior through shaping their attitudes.At the presence of other socialization agents, mass media does not affect emerging adults' piracy attitudes or behavior.The respondents can be classified into distinct segments according to their responsiveness to those socialization agents.Demographic, social, and psychological variables are utilized to profile members in each segment.
Superantigen-Induced CD4 T Cell Tolerance Mediated by Myeloid Cells and IFN-γ

We have previously shown that systemic staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) injections cause CD4 T cells in TCR-transgenic mice to become tolerant to subsequent ex vivo restimulation. An active IFN-gamma-dependent mechanism of suppression was responsible for the apparent unresponsiveness of the CD4 T cells. In this study, we analyze the response of CD4 T cells isolated throughout the first 10 days of the in vivo response to injected SEA. We show that CD4 T cells isolated at the peak of the in vivo response undergo very little activation-induced cell death after sterile FACS sorting or restimulation in the presence of neutralizing Abs to IFN-gamma. We also show that the IFN-gamma-dependent tolerance develops soon after SEA injection in the spleens of both normal and TCR-transgenic mice. This suppression is dependent upon myeloid cells from the SEA-treated mice and is optimal when inducible NO synthase activity and reactive oxygen intermediates are both present. The data indicate that IFN-gamma, myeloid cells, and a combination of NO and reactive oxygen intermediates all contribute to a common pathway of T cell death that targets activated or responding CD4 T cells. Sorted Gr-1(+) cells from SEA-treated mice also directly suppress the response of naive CD4 T cells in mixed cultures, indicating that this tolerance mechanism may play a role in down-regulating other vigorous immune responses.
On Critical Realism, Human Geography, and Arcane Sects!

(1991). On Critical Realism, Human Geography, and Arcane Sects! The Professional Geographer: Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 231-233.
Radiation induced color centers and light monitoring for lead tungstate crystals

This paper presents result of a study on undoped as well as various doped lead tungstate crystals. Radiation induced color center density was compared to radioluminescence. Light output degradation for crystals under irradiation was measured. Correlations between variations of crystal transmittance and light output were investigated. Monitoring wavelength was determined so that adequate sensitivity and good linearity may be achieved.
The 3D vase museum: a new approach to context in a digital library

We present a new approach to displaying and browsing a digital library collection, a set of Greek vases in the Perseus digital library. Our design takes advantage of three-dimensional graphics to preserve context even while the user focuses in on a single item. In a typical digital library user interface, a user can either get an overview for context or else see a single selected item, sacrificing the context view. In our 3D Vase Museum, the user can navigate seamlessly from a high level scatterplot-like plan view to a perspective overview of a subset of the collection, to a view of an individual item, to retrieval of data associated with that item, all within the same virtual room and without any mode change or special command. We present this as an example of a solution to the problem of focus-plus-context in information visualization. We developed 3D models from the 2D photographs in the collection and placed them in our 3D virtual room. We evaluated our approach by comparing it to the conventional interface in Perseus using tasks drawn from archaeology courses and found a clear improvement. Subjects who used our 3D Vase Museum performed the tasks 33% better and did so nearly three times faster.
Resource-driven terrestrial interaction webs

Terrestrial food webs based on living plants may well represent 75% of global terrestrial biodiver- sity. The majority of component species are specialists and a large proportion is parasitic as herbi- vores and carnivores, with consequences for high sensitivity to heterogeneity on a variety of scales. Relatively large primary producers support relatively small insect herbivores and carnivores, with plants providing both food and habitat, making resource-driven effects very strong. Complexity of resources provided by plants, with influences up the food web, is generated by at least seven major factors: (i) plants as food; (ii) plants as habitat; (iii) the physical traits of plants such as size, tough- ness and trichomes; (iv) traits of plants that require evolutionary responses by herbivores in terms of crypsis, phenological synchrony, life history and behavioral adaptations; (v) the constitutive chemicals in plants; (vi) the induced changes in plants caused by herbivory; and (vii) landscape and biogeographic variation in vegetation types and food web richness. No other trophic level has such a wide-ranging impact on other trophic levels. But such broad impact makes the term 'food web' overly narrow and inadequate. The term 'interaction web' is preferable, aiding recognition of the many kinds of interactions that pass up food webs from living plants. Any claim that top-down impact is stronger than bottom-up influences is necessarily couched in a narrow sense of biomass or numbers reduction.
Effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and Placebo Treatment on Sympathetic Nervous Activity in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Study objectives: We studied the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on sympathetic nervous activity in 38 patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Setting: Patients underwent polysomnography on three occasions in a clinical research center, and had BP monitored over 24 h at home. All of the patients had sleep apnea with a respiratory disturbance index (RDI) > 15. Interventions: The patients were randomized blindly to CPAP or placebo (CPAP at ineffective pressure) treatment. Measurements and results: Prior to therapy, the number of apneas and the severity of nocturnal hypoxia correlated significantly with daytime urinary norepinephrine (NE) levels, but not nighttime urinary NE levels. CPAP treatment lowered daytime BP from 99 2m m Hg to 95 3 mm Hg (mean SEM) and nighttime BP from 93 3m m Hg to 88 3 mm Hg. Placebo CPAP treatment decreased both day and night mean BP only 2 mm Hg. CPAP, but not placebo, treatment lowered daytime plasma NE levels by 23%, daytime urine NE levels by 36%, daytime heart rate by 2.6 beats/min, and increased lymphocyte 2-adrenergic receptor sensitivity (all p < 0.05). The effect of CPAP treatment on nighttime urine NE levels and heart rate did not differ from placebo treatment. There was a suggestion of an effect of placebo CPAP treatment on nighttime measures, but not on daytime measures. Conclusion: We conclude that daytime sympathetic nervous activation is greater with more severe sleep apnea. CPAP treatment diminished the daytime sympathetic activation; the potential nighttime effect of CPAP treatment was obscured by a small placebo effect. (CHEST 2001; 120:887– 893)
Convergence of a fully overlapping domain decomposition method

A fully overlapping domain decomposition method (DDM) is proposed for finite element modeling of small features within large domains. The approach decouples the fine mesh associated with antenna details from that of the background domain. This allows for unstructured meshing, providing great flexibility in designing in situ antennas. Another advantage of this algorithm is its faster convergence as compared to traditional non-overlapping domain decomposition methods of the same order. This is due to the smaller iteration matrix eigenspectrum. In this paper, the accuracy of the fully overlapping domain decomposition method is presented with h-refinement analysis.
Standardizing Characterization of Electromagnetic Water Content Sensors: Part 1. Methodology

cases salinity. However, it is sometimes the case that a new sensor is promoted and distributed only to be Performancedifferences inthe growingnumber ofelectromagnetic disapproved of years later due to poor measurement (EM) sensors designed to estimate soil water content from a variety of indirect measurements (e.g., from measured travel time, capacitance, performance. The cost to users in unreliable experimenfrequency shift) suggests the need for a standardized sensor character- talresultsorreducedproductivityforgrowersultimately ization methodology. We suggest that characterization and evaluation falls back on the company in the form of a damaged of EM sensors, which currently lack citable standards, be performed reputation. These costs could be minimized or avoided in a homogeneous fluid of known permittivity rather than in a porous by appropriate assessment of sensors and dissemination medium of unknown permittivity. Our objectives were to (i) develop ofstandardized performancecriteria. Studiesevaluating a methodology for evaluating EM sensor measurement attributes EM sensor performance have typically evaluated perreferencing sensor-specific characteristics and targeted soil properties mittivity determinations in a number of soils over a and (ii) suggest standards for characterization and comparison of sensors. range of water contents (Evett et al., 2002; Leib et al., Criteria for qualitative assessment of sensors include determination 2003; Seyfried and Murdock, 2004). These studies are of effective measurement frequency; susceptibility to variations in salinity, dielectric relaxation, and temperature; and a look at spatial useful in demonstrating the general water content meavariationinsensorsamplingarea.Measurementfrequenciesforbroad- surement capability in specific soils. However, these band sensors can be inferred from correlated network analyzer and results are often misleading and conflicting due to consensor measurements or from manufacturer suggestions. Fluids were founding effects arising from bound water or salinity selected to provide surrogate soil-related effects such as relaxation that can be disguised by soil-specific calibrations showoccurring both within and outside of the effective measurement fre- ing improved apparent sensor performance. The quesquency range of common sensors. Test conditions included dielec- tion we ask is, “Does the sensor provide a unique and trically relaxing (R) and nonrelaxing (NR) as well as electrically con- therefore reliable permittivity response (e.g., voltage, ducting(C)andnonconducting(NC)liquidsandcombinationsthereof travel time) from water content changes when tempera(e.g., NR-C). No suitable combinationof relaxing and conducting (R-C) ture, salinity, and even soil type are also varied?” Estab
Quality of service process variables in complex B2B systems integration assessment

This paper presents QoS variables in the organization of complex business processes in large-scale systems integration. A specific focus is on QoS assessment structures that address variables to include: (a) network infrastructure evolution; (b) open and proprietary mid-level applications; and (c) decision-support processes assessing technologies and capabilities. The research is based on a QoS analysis system for complex military B2B and systems integration projects.
Effects of vaccinia virus uracil DNA glycosylase catalytic site and deoxyuridine triphosphatase deletion mutations individually and together on replication in active and quiescent cells and pathogenesis in mice

Low levels of uracil in DNA result from misincorporation of dUMP or cytosine deamination. Vaccinia virus (VACV), the prototype poxvirus, encodes two enzymes that can potentially reduce the amount of uracil in DNA. Deoxyuridine triphosphatase (dUTPase) hydrolyzes dUTP, generating dUMP for biosynthesis of thymidine nucleotides while decreasing the availability of dUTP for misincorporation; uracil DNA glycosylase (UNG) cleaves uracil N-glycosylic bonds in DNA initiating base excision repair. Studies with actively dividing cells showed that the VACV UNG protein is required for DNA replication but the UNG catalytic site is not, whereas the dUTPase gene can be deleted without impairing virus replication. Recombinant VACV with an UNG catalytic site mutation was attenuated in vivo, while a dUTPase deletion mutant was not. However, the importance of the two enzymes for replication in quiescent cells, their possible synergy and roles in virulence have not been fully assessed. VACV mutants lacking the gene encoding dUTPase or with catalytic site mutations in UNG and double UNG/dUTPase mutants were constructed. Replication of UNG and UNG/dUTPase mutants were slightly reduced compared to wild type or the dUTPase mutant in actively dividing cells. Viral DNA replication was reduced about one-third under these conditions. After high multiplicity infection of quiescent fibroblasts, yields of wild type and mutant viruses were decreased by 2-logs with relative differences similar to those observed in active fibroblasts. However, under low multiplicity multi-step growth conditions in quiescent fibroblasts, replication of the dUTPase/UNG mutant was delayed and 5-fold lower than that of either single mutant or parental virus. This difference was exacerbated by 1-day serial passages on quiescent fibroblasts, resulting in 2- to 3-logs lower titer of the double mutant compared to the parental and single mutant viruses. Each mutant was more attenuated than a revertant virus upon intranasal infection of mice. VACV UNG and dUTPase activities are more important for replication in quiescent cells, which have low levels of endogenous UNG and dUTPase, than in more metabolically active cells and the loss of both is more detrimental than either alone. Both UNG and dUTPase activities are required for full virulence in mice.
Mixed mode matrix multiplication

In modern clustering environments where the memory hierarchy has many layers (distributed memory, shared memory layer, cache, ...), an important question is how to fully utilize all available resources and identify the most dominant layer in certain computation. When combining algorithms on all layers together, what would be the best method to get the best performance out of all the resources we have? The mixed mode programming model that uses thread programming on the shared memory layer and message passing programming on the distributed memory layer is a method that many researchers are using to utilize the memory resources. We take an algorithmic approach that uses matrix multiplication as a tool to show how cache algorithms affect the performance of both shared memory and distributed memory algorithms. We show that with good underlying cache algorithm, overall performance is stable. When the underlying cache algorithm is bad, superlinear speedup may occur and increasing number of threads may also improve performance.
New Understanding of Atomic Physics Using High Velocity Positrons

We consider various high velocity scattering processes of atoms and positrons that may lead to new understanding of atomic collisions. In electron capture by positrons interference of second order singularities may be observable in the differential cross sections, while in total cross sections there are qualitative differences in theoretical predictions of the ratio of capture by positrons and protons with the same velocity. In double excitation, ionization and capture plus ionization there is evidence from heavy ion data and analysis that correlation is playing a significant and observable role. We suggest that similar studies with positrons may yield further insight into the role of correlation with few and many electron targets.
A 4 GHz BiCMOS frequency synthesizer

Describes the first in a range of frequency synthesizer products being designed by Analog Devices in Limerick. The device is part of a family of parts at various power levels targeted at the frequency range 500 MHz to 3.5 GHz. First silicon has been evaluated and shows correct operation to 4 GHz for the highest power version, consuming 1O mA approximately. The process used is 0.6 /spl mu/m BiCMOS with 20 GHz F/sub T/ NPN transistors and 0.6 /spl mu/m CMOS, running in the Limerick Fab. It is planned to follow up with a dual RF/IF part, a fractional-N part and parts with a self-contained VCO.
The Examination of Peer Review and Publication in Neurology

Despite remarkable growth in the clinical neurology literature, there is little research on peer review and biomedical publication in neurology. Biomedical publication research encompasses every step of the research process, from the methodology to the publication of research findings. Some general medical journals have served as leaders in improving scientific publication. Many medical fields have taken it upon themselves to characterize journals and peer reviewers within their own fields. Not all of these data can be applied to the clinical neurology literature; research methodologies, article types, and the journals themselves are unique to every medical field. This article reviews current publication research in the neurology literature and concludes that, to sustain and improve upon the integrity of clinical neurology research, further study is needed of the journals and the peer review process in neurology. Otherwise, the value of clinical research findings and patient care guidelines will be diminished.
Dislocation rate after hip hemiarthroplasty in patients with tumor-related conditions.

Background: Hemiarthroplasty is frequently used to treat femoral neck insufficiency resulting from neoplastic disease in the proximal part of the femur. The authors of a recent study analyzed the dislocation rates following hemiarthroplasty but excluded patients with tumor involvement of the site of the surgery as they hypothesized that the dislocation rates would be markedly higher in such patients. The current study was performed to compare the dislocation rate following hemiarthroplasties performed in patients without tumor involvement with the rate following hemiarthroplasties in patients with tumor involvement of the surgical site. Methods: Patients who had undergone hemiarthroplasty following resection of a tumor involving the proximal part of the femur were identified in a total joint registry, and the patients' charts were reviewed retrospectively to determine dislocation rates, preoperative conditions, and postoperative outcomes and treatments. Between 1974 and 2001, 1812 patients were treated with hemiarthroplasty for reasons other than tumor involvement and 320 hemiarthroplasties were performed because of tumor-related conditions. The patients who were treated for a tumor-related condition were younger, and a higher proportion of them were men. Results: The ten-year dislocation rate after the hemiarthroplasties performed for tumor-related conditions (10.9%) was higher than that following the hemiarthroplasties performed for non-tumor-related conditions (2.1%) (p = 0.002). The median time to dislocation in the patients with a tumor-related condition (twenty-four days) was shorter than that for the patients without tumor involvement (thirty-seven days). Preservation of the greater trochanter in patients with tumor involvement did not have a significant influence on the dislocation rate, but it showed a favorable trend toward decreasing that rate (hazard ratio = 3.5, p = 0.06). Conclusions: The short-term and long-term dislocation rates associated with hemiarthroplasties performed for a tumor-related condition at the site of the surgery were significantly higher than those associated with hemiarthroplasties performed for reasons other than tumor involvement. Preservation of the greater trochanter showed a trend toward decreasing the likelihood of dislocation following the hemiarthroplasty, and it was more influential than the level of resection and the extent of soft-tissue compromise. We think that preservation of the greater trochanter should be attempted when it is justifiable according to the principles of oncologic surgery. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Relating Training to Changes in Behavior, Case Conceptualization, and Therapeutic Outcome

A multicomponent training package using instruction, behavior rehearsal, role-play, modeling, and directfeedback was implemented to train six doctoral-level students in the use of circular-questioning skills. A concurrent multiple baseline across participants design was incorporated within the method of the study. Findings indicated acquisition of circular-questioning skills and increases in student ability to conceptualize case material systemically from pretraining (baseline) to posttraining and follow-up phases. In addition, afunctional relationship between training and positive client outcome was noted. The authors discuss the findings in relation to the need for more empirical studies relating systematic training to changes in student behaviors, case conceptualization, and positive therapeutic outcome.
Synthesis of Novel Products In Vitro by an RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase

RNA-dependent RNA polymerase from turnip crinkle virus-infected turnip transcribes both strands of a virus-associated satellite RNA, sat-RNA C (356 bases), in vitro. While both plus- and minus-strand sat-RNA C can direct the synthesis of full-length complementary-strand products, transcription of minus-strand RNA also generates two non-template-sized products, L-RNA and S-RNA (C. Song and A. E. Simon, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:8792-8796, 1994). Here we report that synthesis of L-RNA and S-RNA results from terminal elongation of the 3' end of the template. L-RNA has a panhandle structure and is composed of minus-strand template covalently linked to newly synthesized RNA complementary to its 5' 190 bases. S-RNA is composed of template covalently linked to its full-length complementary strand. All minus-strand templates tested yielded S-RNA. However, synthesis of L-RNA was affected by deletion of the 3' end of the minus-strand template or several internal regions and base alterations near the 5' end or in an internal sequence immediately upstream from the template-product junction that could potentially form a heteroduplex with the 3' end. Furthermore, mutations that disrupted or restored a stem-loop involved in RNA recombination in vivo affected the level of L-RNA produced in vitro, suggesting that the mechanisms for intramolecular formation of panhandle RNAs and intermolecular RNA recombination involve similar features.
Beware the eyes behind the mask: The capture and hold of selective attention by backward masked fearful eyes

Fearful facial expressions are important social indicators of environmental threat. Among the various features of a fearful face, the eyes appear to be particularly important for recognizing and responding to these social cues. One way in which fearful faces facilitate observers’ behavior is by automatically capturing attention. This is true for both consciously and nonconsciously processed fearful faces. Recent research suggests that consciously processed fearful eyes alone are sufficient to capture observers’ attention. However, it is unknown as to whether or not nonconsciously processed, backward masked, fearful eyes are sufficient to facilitate spatial attention. To test this possibility, two dot-probe experiments with masked fearful eye stimuli were performed. In Experiment 1, we found that, relative to scrambled eyes, masked fearful eyes facilitate attentional orienting and delay attentional disengagement. In Experiment 2, we replicated this effect when comparing backward masked fearful to neutral eyes. Thus, the data suggest that nonconscious fearful eyes facilitate spatial attention through facilitated orienting and delayed disengagement.
What We Know about Multifamily Mortgage Originations and Why We Care

The three publicly available data sets on multifamily mortgage originations are examined and compared to resolve the more than $20 billion discrepancy between the published estimates of the size of the conventional conforming multifamily lending market. The data are from the Survey of Mortgage Lending Activity, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data, and the 1991 Residential Finance Survey. The analyses show that all three data sets have substantial weaknesses, and that the primary source of the differences in estimates is due to differences in the populations covered. The 1993 multifamily mortgage originations volume is estimated to be about $30 billion.
Instrumental Determination of Energy Oxygen and BOD5

An instrument has been developed that measures the amount of oxygen consumption of a wastewater sample in the presence of excess microbial population and dissolved oxygen. In a closed circulatory system the sample experiences rapid microbiological oxidation with a measurement of oxygen consumed (designated EO, energy oxygen) by a DO electrode. The ABODA instrument (automatic BOD analyzer) measures EO of wastewater samples in less than one hour. EO shows an excellent correlation to BOD 5 with correlation coefficients, r, of 0.997 and 0.99 for glucose-glutamate standard, and raw sewage and primary effluent samples, respectively. The reproduceability for the analyses are as follows: EO, 209 analyses with a weighted average cv of ± 5.1 % and BOD 5 , 200 analyses with a weighted average cv of ±9.8%. The instrumental determination of EO is not temperature dependent as the BOD 5 test. Considering these factors the instrumental determination of EO allows the rapid measurement of BOD 5 .
Inactivation of Prothrombin by Purified Thrombin Solutions.

SummaryEvidence is presented to show that solutions of purified thrombin contain a substance which reacts slowly with prothrombin, causing inactivation of the latter. The destructive agent is not present in the calcium, prothrombin, or thromboplastin solutions from which the thrombin is produced. The factor is heat-labile and the evidence indicates that thrombin itself is the factor in question.
Superparamagnetic Magnetite Nanoparticle Superstructures for Optical Modulation/Chopping

We experimentally demonstrate proof of concept operation of superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles and magnetite−TiO2 peapod superstructures for laser intensity modulation and chopping. The frequency of the modulation is shown to be twice that of the driving signal and a function of the size of the particles. Specifically, optical modulation with round nanoparticles of sizes 86, 140, and 190 nm is compared with optical modulation with magnetite−TiO2 peapod superstructures of lengths of around 1 μm. The former gave rise to modulations of up to 2 kHz in frequency, a number comparable to that of commercial optical choppers, the latter up to 100 Hz. We also show that particle shape asymmetry and anisotropy enhance optical modulation and that modulation frequency is inversely proportional to the inertia of the particles used.
Cell-specific Profiling of Nascent Proteomes Using Orthogonal Enzyme-mediated Puromycin Incorporation

Translation regulation is a fundamental component of gene expression, allowing cells to respond rapidly to a variety of stimuli in the absence of new transcription. The lack of methods for profiling nascent proteomes in distinct cell populations in heterogeneous tissues has precluded an understanding of translational regulation in physiologically relevant contexts. Here, we describe a chemical genetic method that involves orthogonal enzyme-mediated incorporation of a clickable puromycin analogue into nascent polypeptides. Using this method, we show that we can label newly synthesized proteins in a cell-specific manner in cells grown in culture and in heterogeneous tissues. We also show that we can identify the nascent proteome in genetically targeted cell populations using affinity enrichment and tandem mass spectrometry. Our method has the potential to provide unprecedented insights into cell-specific translational regulation in heterogeneous tissues.
Toward a Comprehensive Theoretical Framework for Designing Digital Badges

Digital badges, as emerging trend in education technology, present a new means of assessment in the form of granular microcredentials. The problem facing educators is that distributed learning across various domains and contexts is not captured or structured effectively. This chapter will attempt develop a framework for designing digital badge systems to help address this issue. The authors first present a range of related theories that could support the design of digital badges, including enabling learning autonomy and personalization from the self-regulated learning perspective, goal setting, and pertinent motivating factors found in digital games. The culmination of these theories is then presented as a comprehensive framework which, in turn, could possibly lay the foundation for the design and implementation of digital badge systems.
Unicity results for Gauss maps of minimal surfaces immersed in $${\mathbb{R}^{m}}$$ R m

We prove a unicity theorem for two conformally diffeomorphic complete minimal surfaces immersed in $${\mathbb{R}^m}$$ whose generalized Gauss maps $${f}$$ and $${g}$$ agree on the pre-image $${\cup_{j=1}^q f^{-1}(H_j)}$$ for given hyperplanes $${H_j, 1\leq j \leq q}$$ , in $${\mathbb{P}^{m-1}(\mathbb{C})}$$ , located in general position, under the assumption that $${\bigcap _{j=1}^{k+1} f^{-1}(H_{i_j}) = \emptyset }$$ . In the case when $${k=m-1}$$ , the result obtained gives an improvement of the earlier result of Fujimoto (see Kodai Math J 16:335–354, 1993).
2551: Acute skin rejection in non-human primate models of face and hand allotransplantation: Before and after tolerance induction

BackgroundFollowing face or hand transplantation, maintenance immunosuppression is required to prevent VCA loss However, despite such immunosuppression, up to 85% of patients develop at least an ep...
HIV Care and Viral Suppression During the Last Year of Life: A Comparison of HIV-Infected Persons Who Died of HIV-Attributable Causes With Persons Who Died of Other Causes in 2012 in 13 US Jurisdictions.

Background: Little information is available about care before death among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected persons who die of HIV infection, compared with those who die of other causes. Objective: The objective of our study was to compare HIV care and outcome before death among persons with HIV who died of HIV-attributable versus other causes. Methods: We used National HIV Surveillance System data on CD4 T-lymphocyte counts and viral loads within 12 months before death in 2012, as well as on underlying cause of death. Deaths were classified as “HIV-attributable” if the reported underlying cause was HIV infection, an AIDS-defining disease, or immunodeficiency and as attributable to “other causes” if the cause was anything else. Persons were classified as “in continuous care” if they had ≥2 CD4 or viral load test results ≥3 months apart in those 12 months and as having “viral suppression” if their last viral load was <200 copies/mL. Results: Among persons dying of HIV-attributable or other causes, respectively, 65.28% (2104/3223) and 30.88% (1041/3371) met AIDS criteria within 12 months before death, and 33.76% (1088/3223) and 50.96% (1718/3371) had viral suppression. The percentage of persons who received ≥2 tests ≥3 months apart did not differ by cause of death. Prevalence of viral suppression for persons who ever had AIDS was lower among those who died of HIV but did not differ by cause for those who never had AIDS. Conclusions: The lower prevalence of viral suppression among persons who died of HIV than among those who died of other causes implies a need to improve viral suppression strategies to reduce mortality due to HIV infection. [JMIR Public Health Surveill 2017;3(1):e3]
Keeping Secrets in $$\mathcal {EL}^{+}$$ Knowledge Bases

In this paper we study Secrecy-Preserving Query Answering problem under Open World Assumption (OWA) for \(\mathcal {EL}^+\) Knowledge Bases (KBs). First we compute some consequences of ABox (\(\mathcal {A}\)) and TBox (\(\mathcal {T}\)) denoted by \(\mathcal {A}^*\) and \(\mathcal {T}^*\) respectively. A secrecy set of a querying agent is subset \(\mathbb {S}\) of \(\mathcal {A}^*\cup \mathcal {T}^*\) which the agent is not allowed to access. Next we compute envelopes which provide logical protection to the secrecy set against the reasoning of the querying agent. Once envelopes are computed, they are used to efficiently answer assertional and GCI queries without compromising the secret information in \(\mathbb {S}\). When the querying agent asks a query q, the reasoner answers “Yes” if KB \(\models q\) and q does not belong to the envelopes; otherwise, the reasoner answers “Unknown”. Being able to answer “Unknown” plays a key role in protecting secrecy under OWA. Since we are not computing all the consequences of the KB, answers to the queries based on just \(\mathcal {A}^*\) and \(\mathcal {T}^*\) could be erroneous. To fix this problem, we further augment our algorithms to make the query answering procedure foolproof.
Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 3 and RhoA signaling mediate inflammatory gene expression in astrocytes.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) signals through G protein-coupled receptors to elicit a wide range of cellular responses. In CNS injury and disease, the blood-brain barrier is compromised, causing leakage of S1P from blood into the brain. S1P can also be locally generated through the enzyme sphingosine kinase-1 (Sphk1). Our previous studies demonstrated that S1P activates inflammation in murine astrocytes. The S1P1 receptor subtype has been most associated with CNS disease, particularly multiple sclerosis. S1P3 is most highly expressed and upregulated on astrocytes, however, thus we explored the involvement of this receptor in inflammatory astrocytic responses. Astrocytes isolated from wild-type (WT) or S1P3 knockout (KO) mice were treated with S1P3 selective drugs or transfected with short interfering RNA to determine which receptor subtypes mediate S1P-stimulated inflammatory responses. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFa) messenger RNA (mRNA) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA and protein were assessed by q-PCR and Western blotting. Activation of RhoA was measured using SRE.L luciferase and RhoA implicated in S1P signaling by knockdown of Gα12/13 proteins or by inhibiting RhoA activation with C3 exoenzyme. Inflammation was simulated by in vitro scratch injury of cultured astrocytes. S1P3 was highly expressed in astrocytes and further upregulated in response to simulated inflammation. Studies using S1P3 knockdown and S1P3 KO astrocytes demonstrated that S1P3 mediates activation of RhoA and induction of COX-2, IL-6, and VEGFa mRNA, with some contribution from S1P2. S1P induces expression of all of these genes through coupling to the Gα12/13 proteins which activate RhoA. Studies using S1P3 selective agonists/antagonists as well as Fingolimod (FTY720) confirmed that stimulation of S1P3 induces COX-2 expression in astrocytes. Simulated inflammation increased expression of Sphk1 and consequently activated S1P3, demonstrating an autocrine pathway through which S1P is formed and released from astrocytes to regulate COX-2 expression. S1P3, through its ability to activate RhoA and its upregulation in astrocytes, plays a unique role in inducing inflammatory responses and should be considered as a potentially important therapeutic target for CNS disease progression.
Debris flow initiation by runoff in a recently burned basin: Is grain-by-grain sediment bulking or en masse failure to blame?

Postwildfire debris flows are frequently triggered by runoff following high-intensity rainfall, but the physical mechanisms by which water-dominated flows transition to debris flows are poorly understood relative to debris flow initiation from shallow landslides. In this study, we combined a numerical model with high-resolution hydrologic and geomorphic data sets to test two different hypotheses for debris flow initiation during a rainfall event that produced numerous debris flows within a recently burned drainage basin. Based on simulations, large volumes of sediment eroded from the hillslopes were redeposited within the channel network throughout the storm, leading to the initiation of numerous debris flows as a result of the mass failure of sediment dams that built up within the channel. More generally, results provide a quantitative framework for assessing the potential of runoff-generated debris flows based on sediment supply and hydrologic conditions.
Ideals and quotients

Another way of constructing a new relation algebra from a given one A is to “glue” some of the elements of \( \mathfrak{U} \) together to form an algebra that is structurally similar to, but simpler than \( \mathfrak{U} \). Congruence relations provide a natural way of carrying out such a gluing. The prototype for this construction is the ring of integers modulo n (for some positive integer n), which is constructed from the ring of integers by forming its quotient with respect to the relation of congruence modulo n. Each congruence relation on a relation algebra determines, and is determined by, the set of elements that are congruent to zero, so the whole construction can be simplified by replacing the congruence relation with the congruence class of zero. This leads to the study of ideals. The most natural place to begin the discussion, however, is with the basic notion of a congruence relation.
On haptic media and the possibilities of a more inclusive interactivity

What is the relationship between the ‘haptic’ and the ‘tactile’ when it comes to media? We might question whether there is such a thing as ‘haptic media’; in other words, is there a type of media t...
Mediation a la Carte: Improving the Transparency and Diversity of Mediator Styles

This article argues that existing models of mediator styles and techniques are unnecessarily limited. A wider variety of mediator styles might better suit the individual preferences of disputants and the nature of their dispute. The article then presents a model intended to improve the transparency and the diversity of mediator style and techniques. Such a model may also afford useful feedback as to (1) the extent to which parties value certain well-established mediator techniques - such as paraphrasing and acknowledgement; and (2) whether parties assign value to fundamental mediator principles - such as neutrality and self-determination.
Metastatic Seminoma: Should Treatment Be Different from Non-seminoma?

It is now more than 50 years since Friedman [1] first demonstrated that seminoma was more sensitive to radiation than non-seminoma and it has since been standard to give a different radiation dosage. In contrast, although our group first demonstrated 18 years ago that the chemosensitivity of metastatic seminoma to single agent cisplatin was so different to that of non-seminoma, that it might be safe to treat all metastatic seminoma with single agent and only use combination to salvage the minority who fail it [2, 3], BEP combination chemotherapy remains the standard of care. With new evidence from multivariate analysis demonstrating that pure seminoma histology predicts for a better relapse free survival after cisplatin based combination therapy than non-seminoma [4] and given the increased anxiety about late second malignant events after etoposide treatment [5], renewed interest in this issue is emerging. This paper updates the results from our studies and attempts to define a subgroup of seminoma patients in whom it may be safe to use single agent platinum therapy.
Feasibility of parametric imaging in multi-bed dynamic human FDG PET

127 Objectives The Gjedde-Patlak plot (GP plot) is commonly used in quantitative dynamic FDG PET studies. The uptake rate constant Ki (mL/min/100 mL) can be theoretically estimated by the GP plot without knowledge of the full time course of tissue tracer kinetics, and this serves as a basis for the use of the GP plot to quantify PET scans with multi-bed positions. Our objective was to investigate the feasibility of parametric imaging for voxel-wise quantification of multi-bed dynamic FDG PET. Methods Twelve thoracic oncology FDG PET studies were performed on a GE Advance scanner at a single bed position. Dynamic images (256x256x35, voxel size 2x2x4.25 mm3) of 19 frames over 60 min (6x10s,3x20s,2x90s,2x150s,2x300s,4x600s) were reconstructed using an OSEM algorithm. To obtain the blood input function for the GP plot, ROIs of the left ventricle (LV) were drawn manually on the first 2 min images. The radioactivity distribution was used to calculate the center of mass of LV (mcLV). A volume (5x5x3) centered at mcLV was then copied to dynamic images to generate a time activity curve to be used for the input function. The GP plot with t* ≥ 10 min was used to generate Ki images. A 2 bed positions protocol was used to extract the samples from the continuous 10 to 60 min single-bed dynamic PET data without replacement. The SUV and Ki images calculated from the 10 to 60 min single-bed scans were used as reference for comparison. Results The Ki images generated from the samples of the 2 bed positions protocol were comparable to those generated from the standard continuous single-bed position data acquisition protocol. The Ki images showed higher contrast than SUV images to distinguish tumors from normal tissue. Conclusions The GP plot is a appropriate graphical method to generate reliable Ki images for voxel-wsie quantification of clinical dynamic FDG PET images obtained at multi-bed positions. Work in progress includes optimization of the data acquisition protocol, 4D image reconstruction, and the parametric imaging algorithm. Research Support KA24 DA00042(DFW)
The Decline of Main Street and the Middle Class

Corporate executives have decimated the middle class by downsizing, outsourcing, sub-contracting, moving production abroad, and utilizing endless schemes to employ temporary workers who can be hired seasonally, or simply part-time, or as independent contractors who are not called employees. Corporations have bypassed unions altogether by shifting operations to right-to-work states (in the USA) or abroad. They have opposed raising the minimum wage, which remains much lower in the USA than in the UK. The result is that workers have less economic security than they had in the 1970s: even middle-class employees have seen their standards of living stagnate at best, while losing benefits, everything from healthcare to decent pensions. And for the most vulnerable workers, corporations have widely practiced wage theft or deliberately misclassified workers as independents not entitled to any benefits.
Magnetocaloric Effect in Frustrated Magnetic Systems: From Bulk to Nano

Abstract This chapter highlights the recent research interest in probing magnetocaloric effect in frustrated magnets. Significantly, high values of isothermal entropy change are observed in various geometrically frustrated magnetic lattices, like the kagome, garnet, honeycomb, and pyrochlore. This is driven by the availability of large degenerate magnetic ground states in zero external magnetic field, in contrast to the unique magnetic ground state found in magnets with first- or second-order phase transition. A technologically profitable extension of this effect in bulk frustrated magnets is toward nano-frustrated magnets. Inherent frustration along with surface and spin disorder and, blocking effect can enhance nano-magnetocaloric effect. Recent results from the literature revealing the promise of magnetocaloric effect in frustrated magnets are presented here.
Confidence Intervals for Sparse Penalized Regression With Random Designs

With the abundance of large data, sparse penalized regression techniques are commonly used in data analysis due to the advantage of simultaneous variable selection and estimation. A number of conve...
The Gene in Cancer

It was through investigations of certain retroviruses that could transform cells that the first knowledge was gained of the role of specific gene sequences in the induction of tumors and malignancies. Apparently, such cistrons, which are largely homologous to particular ones of the host, act in concert with viral transcription-control elements to lead to tumor or neoplastic formation in mammals and experimental tissue cultures (R. Watson et al., 1982; Feramisco et al., 1985; Van Beveren et al., 1985). Although for obvious reasons studies have focused mainly on vertebrates, similar processes seem to be active at times in insects and even in yeasts, fungi, and seed plants. At the present time few normal functions have been determined in the cellular counterparts of the cancer-producing, or onc,genes, as they are called (Vande Woude et al., 1984). To distinguish between viral and cellular homologs, a v-or c-is prefixed to the gene abbreviation, as v-onc or c-fas, respectively. In some laboratories, the c-onc genes are referred to as proto-oncogenes, suggestive of their being nonmalignant until recombined into a viral genome (e.g., Katzen et al.,1985; Shen et al., 1985). It is necessary to point out that not only are the viral genes capable of inducing cell transformation, but the c-onc structures themselves may do so when activated by various agents.