cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A method for the toxicity assessment of wet weather events

Abstract The variable nature of wet weather flow events has made it difficult to assess the toxicity of these events with conventional toxicity testing methods. This paper proposes a test protocol that includes an event-focused toxicity test method, a corresponding test metric that more accurately represents the toxicity of brief exposures, and an event-based index that describes the acute toxicity of wet weather events. This testing protocol is designed to quantify toxic response produced by brief contaminant exposures (
Correlative studies on the effects of obesity, diabetes and hypertension on gene expression in omental adipose tissue of obese women.

A major consequence of obesity is the enormous expansion of and enhanced inflammatory response seen in visceral adipose tissue. I hypothesized that the expression of inflammatory markers in visceral omental fat would correlate with the extent of visceral adiposity as measured by waist circumference or body mass index and that diabetes and hypertension, defined as subjects taking anti-hypertensive drugs, would be associated with changes in mRNA expression in visceral fat. The expression of 106 mRNAs by RT-PCR was examined in observational studies using extracts of omental fat of obese women undergoing bariatric surgery as well as the circulating levels of some adipokines. We also compared the mRNA levels of 65 proteins in omental fat removed during gastric bypass surgery of women with and without hypertension and those with type 2 diabetes. Out of 106 mRNAs the expression of 10 mRNAs in omental fat of women not taking anti-hypertensive drugs correlated with waist circumference while 7 different mRNAs had significant correlations with circulating glucose. The correlations of waist circumference with mRNA expression were abolished, except for interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), in women taking anti-hypertensive drugs. The correlations of blood glucose with omental fat mRNA expression were abolished, except for that of Akt1 and Akt2, in women taking anti-hypertensive drugs. However, the expression of 4 different mRNAs in omental fat was affected by circulating glucose in subjects taking anti-hypertensive drugs. The circulating levels of IL-1 RA, but not fatty acid binding protein 4, adipsin and phospholipase A2, correlated with both waist circumference and mRNA expression in omental fat. In female bariatric surgery patients, the mRNA expression of some proteins in omental fat was affected by the degree of obesity, whereas hypertension and diabetes affected a separate set of mRNAs.
The contentious French: Four centuries of popular struggle

(1988). The contentious French: Four centuries of popular struggle. History of European Ideas: Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 242-243.
Comparison of open, laparoscopic, and hand-assisted approaches to live-donor nephrectomy.

Background. Minimally invasive donor nephrectomy has become a favored procedure for the procurement of kidneys from live donors. The optimal minimally invasive surgical approach has not been determined. In the current work, we compared the outcome of kidneys procured using the traditional open approach with two minimally invasive techniques: the standard laparoscopic procedure and a hand-assist procedure. Methods. The function of live-donor kidneys procured by open versus minimally invasive procedures was compared (procedures compared were the traditional open donor nephrectomy [ODN], the standard laparoscopic [LAP] approach, and the hand-assisted [HA] laparoscopic technique). The length of donor operation, donor length of stay in the hospital, surgical complications, and cost of hospitalization for three groups of patients were assessed in a series of 150 live-donor nephrectomies. Results. We found that both minimally invasive procedures yielded kidney allografts with excellent early function and a minimum of complications in the donor. The open procedure was associated with a reduced operative time but increased donor length of stay in the hospital. Resource utilization analysis revealed that both minimally invasive techniques were associated with a slight increase in costs compared with the open procedure, despite a shorter hospital stay. Conclusions. Minimally invasive donor nephrectomy is safe and effective for procuring normally functioning organs for live-donor transplantation. Of the two minimally invasive approaches examined, the hand-assisted technique was found to afford a number of important advantages, including facilitating teaching of residents and students, that it is more readily mastered by transplant surgeons, and that it may provide an additional margin of safety for the donor.
A Thin-Film Rod Memory for the NCR 315 RMC Computer

This paper describes a thin-film Rod memory that is used as the main store in the NCR Rod Memory Computer. The production procedure for the Rod storage element and the fabrication and assembly of the memory stack is outlined. The mode of operation of the memory is discussed. Line characteristics, design criteria, as well as a description of word, sense, digit and timing circuits are also presented.
Rate of water uptake through the integument of the desert toad, Bufo punctatus

Abstract 1. 1. The rates of water uptake across the total integument, ventral pectoral integument and ventral pelvic integument were compared in dehydrated Bufo punctatus . 2. 2. The ventral pectoral integument was found to take up insignificant quantities of water whereas the ventral pelvic integument was found to take water up at a mean rate of 423 mg/cm 2 per hr, and can account for approximately 70 per cent of the rate of water uptake in toads totally submerged. 3. 3. These data are consistent with observations on the rehydration behavior of the toad (i.e. rapid emergence after rains and pressing against moist substrates).
The Relative Efficiency of Gains in Weight Made by Male and Female Bronze Turkeys

Abstract CONSIDERABLE data have been colected on feed used by turkeys at different age and weight periods but the greater part has been based on flocks composed of both sexes, with limited information having been obtained where the sexes were separated. Data reported by Brooks (1933) on Bourbon Red turkeys from 18 to 28 weeks of age with males and females separated, showed male turkeys used feed more efficiently than females; that is, a pound of weight was produced on less feed by the males than by the females. The average gains were greater and more consistent each week for males than for females. Males ate more feed each week per bird than females but less in relation to their body weight or gain in weight than females. Bourbon Red males raised in strict confinement consumed an average of 6.0 pounds of feed per pound of gain made between the ages . . .
Functionally disabled elderly. Health status, social support, and use of health services.

In order to identify the patterns of health-social services use by impaired elders in the community, it is imperative to examine the relationships among health status, social support, and use of services. The role of social support networks as a mediating factor between psychological symptoms and gerontological health deserves a careful assessment. This study has systematically investigated the use of ambulatory services by 694 elders who had a functionally limiting condition in the Statewide Survey of Older Virginians in 1979.
More on simulation languages and design methodology for computer systems

In an earlier paper we attempted to set forth (1) a design methodology for computer systems which made heavy use of simulation and (2) a simulation language intended to facilitate the use of the design methodology presented. The basic justification for the design methodology presented an old precept from engineering design: a problem must be defined before it is solved. The result was a methodology which laid great stress on specifying the behavior of a system or a component in a system before producing the design. The simulation language, SODAS, was designed to allow a design to proceed in a hierarchical way, treating any system as a set of components, specifying the behavior of those components, then treating the components themselves as systems. By means of the SODAS language it was to be possible to evaluate the design at any stage in its development without excess effort.
Oligomeric Structure of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Envelope Protein on the Virion Surface

The envelope protein (Env) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 forms homo-oligomers in the endoplasmic reticulum. The oligomeric structure of Env is maintained after cleavage in a Golgi compartment and transport to the surfaces of infected cells, where incorporation into budding virions takes place. Here, we use biophysical techniques to assess the oligomeric valency of virion-associated Env prior to fusion activation. Virion-associated Env oligomers were stabilized by chemical cross-linking prior to detergent extraction and were purified by immunoaffinity chromatography. Gel filtration revealed a single predominant oligomeric species, and sedimentation equilibrium analysis-derived mass values indicated a trimeric structure. Determination of the masses of individual Env molecules by scanning transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that virion-associated Env was trimeric, and a triangular morphology was observed in 20 to 30% of the molecules. These results, which firmly establish the oligomeric structure of human immunodeficiency virus virion-associated Env, parallel those of our previous analysis of the simian immunodeficiency virus Env.
In Ignatian Footsteps: Translational Learning for Educating and Training Adults in the 21 st Century

Each fall, countless people of various ages, ethnicities, and intentions begin a college education at a variety of American institutions of higher education. Higher education has long been viewed as the doorway to the American dream; a ‘social good,’ in economic terms, that promises benefit to the American masses. Studying under higher minds in traditional and non-traditional college and university settings is an opportunity afforded to nearly any person of ability in the United States. Indeed, higher education touches nearly every aspect of American society, from research and biomedicine to technology and the arts.
Reforming antiretroviral price negotiations and public procurement: the Mexican experience

Since antiretroviral (ARV) medicines represent one of the most costly components of therapy for HIV in middle-income countries, ensuring their efficient procurement is highly relevant. In 2008, Mexico created a national commission for the negotiation of ARV prices to achieve price reductions for their public HIV treatment programmes. The objective of this study is to assess the immediate impact of the creation of the Mexican Commission for Price Negotiation on ARV prices and expenditures. A longitudinal retrospective analysis of procurement prices, volumes and type of the most commonly prescribed ARVs procured by the two largest providers of HIV/AIDS care in Mexico between 2004 and 2009 was carried out. These analyses were combined with 26 semi-structured key informant interviews to identify changes in the procurement process. Prices for ARVs dropped by an average of 38% after the first round of negotiations, indicating that the Commission was successful in price negotiations. However, when compared with other upper-middle-income countries, Mexico continues to pay an average of six times more for ARVs. The Commission's negotiations were successful in achieving lower ARV prices. However, price reduction in upper-middle-income countries suggests that the price decrease in Mexico cannot be entirely attributed to the Commission's first round of negotiations. In addition, key informants identified inefficiencies in the forecasting and procurement processes possibly affecting the efficiency of the negotiation process. A comprehensive approach to improving efficiency in the purchasing and delivery of ARVs is necessary, including a better clarification in the roles and responsibilities of the Commission, improving supply data collection and integration in forecasting and procurement, and the creation of a support system to monitor and provide feedback on patient ARV use.
A transient liquid crystal method using a 3-D inverse transient conduction scheme

Abstract The present method utilized the hue-angle method to process the color images captured from the liquid crystal color play. Instantaneous temperature readings from embedded thermocouples were utilized for in situ calibration of hue angle for each data set. The convective heat transfer coefficient results were obtained by performing a 3-D inverse transient conduction calculation over the entire jet impingement target surface and the substrate. The results of average heat transfer coefficients agreed well with previous experimental results of point measurements by thermocouples. Comparison between 1-D and 3-D results indicates that 1-D results are higher than the 3-D results with the local maximum and minimum heat transfer values being overvalued by about 15–20% and the overall heat transfer by approximately 12%. This is due to the fact that 1-D method does not include the lateral heat flows induced by local temperature gradients.
Inhibition of Prostate Cancer Neovascularization and Growth by Urokinase-Plasminogen Activator Receptor Blockade

Binding of the serine protease urokinase (u-PA) to its receptor on tumor cell surfaces facilitates proteolysis and tumor invasion. We undertook this study to determine whether the role of u-PA in prostate cancer induced angiogenesis and secondary tumor growth by developing a homologous, immunocompetent in vivo model in which the tumors cells secrete an inhibitor of the murine u-PA receptor. A mutant recombinant murine u-PA that retains receptor binding but not proteolytic activity was made by PCR mutagenesis. Mutant u-PA and a reporter gene pRK luciferase were transfected and stably expressed in the highly metastatic rat Dunning MAT-LyLu prostate cancer cell line. Several clones expressing mutant u-PA and luciferase were identified by Western blotting, plasminogen zymography, and reverse transcription-PCR. One of these clones, 5C4, was injected s.c. into Copenhagen rats. Compared to animals injected with clones expressing pRK luciferase alone, tumors in animals injected with 5C4 cells were significantly smaller. Moreover, there were fewer lung micrometastases in the 5C4 animals. Primary tumor angiogenesis was measured by microvessel quantification of tissue stained with antibodies against von Willebrand factor. Mean microvessel density in 5C4 tumors was 4.3-fold lower than that in animals with tumors derived from the control tumor cell line (P < 0.0001). Significant inhibition of tumor growth was also observed for two additional MAT-LyLu cell lines expressing mutant u-PA. These findings suggest that cell surface u-PA contributes to prostate cancer growth by enhancing angiogenesis.
Real-time network simulation support for scalable routing experiments

This paper describes a new software infrastructure that combines the scalability and flexibility benefits of real-time network simulation with the realism of open-source routing protocol implementations. The infrastructure seamlessly integrates the open-source XORP router implementation with a real-time large-scale network simulation engine. The design uses a novel forwarding plane offloading approach that decouples routing from forwarding and confines the more resource consuming forwarding operations inside the simulation engine to reduce I/O overhead. Experiments demonstrate superior performance of the software routing infrastructure without impairing accuracy. The infrastructure is shown to be able to support large-scale routing experiments on light-weight virtual machines.
Sequence and Structure Signatures of Cancer Mutation Hotspots in Protein Kinases

Protein kinases are the most common protein domains implicated in cancer, where somatically acquired mutations are known to be functionally linked to a variety of cancers. Resequencing studies of protein kinase coding regions have emphasized the importance of sequence and structure determinants of cancer-causing kinase mutations in understanding of the mutation-dependent activation process. We have developed an integrated bioinformatics resource, which consolidated and mapped all currently available information on genetic modifications in protein kinase genes with sequence, structure and functional data. The integration of diverse data types provided a convenient framework for kinome-wide study of sequence-based and structure-based signatures of cancer mutations. The database-driven analysis has revealed a differential enrichment of SNPs categories in functional regions of the kinase domain, demonstrating that a significant number of cancer mutations could fall at structurally equivalent positions (mutational hotspots) within the catalytic core. We have also found that structurally conserved mutational hotspots can be shared by multiple kinase genes and are often enriched by cancer driver mutations with high oncogenic activity. Structural modeling and energetic analysis of the mutational hotspots have suggested a common molecular mechanism of kinase activation by cancer mutations, and have allowed to reconcile the experimental data. According to a proposed mechanism, structural effect of kinase mutations with a high oncogenic potential may manifest in a significant destabilization of the autoinhibited kinase form, which is likely to drive tumorigenesis at some level. Structure-based functional annotation and prediction of cancer mutation effects in protein kinases can facilitate an understanding of the mutation-dependent activation process and inform experimental studies exploring molecular pathology of tumorigenesis.
Contrasting perspectives on personality problems: descriptions from the self and others

Self-reported personality disorder (PD) traits have low to moderate correlations with informant and peer-reports of the same traits. The current study investigates the source of disagreement in correspondence and proposes that in some cases it is due to systematic differences in perceptions of traits by self and others. Military recruits (N ¼ 2013) were administered self-report measures and an inventory in which they nominated peers who displayed DSM-IV PD traits. Correspondence between self- and peer-report for the same diagnostic categories was low (Rs ranging from 0.11 to 0.22). Semipartial correlations were used to find the 10 items which best predicted each diagnostic category over and above the corresponding scale. Adding these supplemental items to the original regression significantly increased the amount of variance explained (Rs ranged from 0.15 to 0.35) in a cross-validation sample. Although peer- and self-report differed in content, the relationship between self and peer perceptions appears to be systematic and meaningful (e.g., people whose peers describe them as paranoid describe themselves as angry and hostile). 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Filial Piety, Infidel Yale, and Memory Making in Lyman Beecher's Autobiography

Rampant drunkenness, a deserted chapel, schoolboy Voltaires greeting Rousseaus on the Green—this is how Lyman Beecher recalled his Yale days in his Autobiography (1864). But evidence suggests that ...
Book Clubs: Best Practices in Promoting Critical Thinking in Business Classes

The curricular reform movement within education has called for the development of critical thinking skills within the academy. At the authors’ university, the outreach librarian has successfully facilitated several face-to-face book clubs with the goal of honing members’ analytical skills and fostering lifelong learning. As a means of expanding this effort to a formal academic learning objective, the outreach librarian was also virtually embedded into the course management system for several business classes. This article discusses a collaborative faculty/librarian use of online course-related book clubs as a tool for advancing higher level critical thinking skills such as evaluation and reflection.
A component-based approach for JavaCard runtime system development

In recent years a lot of research efforts have been directed towards component-based approach in the development of embedded operating systems. This allows the system to easily adapt itself to different hardware chips and various embedded application subsystems. Most of the existing research on component-based embedded system development is directed towards adapting the system to different hardware chips. However, this approach is not sufficient to port the system from one embedded application to another. In this research we will address the importance of component-based design at the application domain and runtime environment level of embedded systems. Since JavaCard is gaining importance in SmartCard embedded systems, we will design a component-based Java Card Runtime Environment and Application Subsystem. Our approach will enable easy configuration of the system to support Java Card, EMV-compliant card and various other smartcard embedded applications. Our research will demonstrate that the component-based approach allows the embedded operating system to easily port itself to other resource-constrained devices such as cell phones and other embedded system application with relative ease.
The Global Environment Facility and Transboundary Water Resource Management: New Institutional Arrangements in the Danube River and Black Sea Region:

Increased international attention to water resource management has resulted in the creation of new institutional arrangements and environmental funding mechanisms. The Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) International Waters Program is at the heart of these new collaborative regional approaches to the management of transboundary resources. This article assesses the GEF-led efforts in the Danube River and Black Sea region, the GEF’s most mature and ambitious projects to date. It finds that the GEF has been successful in building scientific knowledge and strengthening regional governance institutions in the region. However, challenges remain, including the incorporation of stake-holder participation and the demonstration of clear ecological improvements.
The electromagnetic fields of elliptical torus knots

The electromagnetic radiation and scattering properties of thin perfectly conducting knotted wires are investigated. A particular class of knots, which we call elliptical torus knots, are introduced for the purposes of this investigation. These knots derive their name from the fact that they may be constructed on the surface of a virtual torus which has an elliptical cross section. The parameterizations which describe the curves of these knots are more general than any which have been considered in previous studies and, therefore, provide more flexibility in the design of knotted wire scatterers. A moment method technique is applied to model the backscattering from an elliptical trefoil knot as a function of frequency, polarization, and incidence angle.
Patterns of vegetation along the Omo River in southwest Ethiopia

This study investigates the riverine vegetation along the perennial Omo River, which flows from the Ethiopian highlands to its terminus, in the southwestern lowlands, at Lake Turkana (formerly Lake Rudolf). Broadly defined to include the levee backslopes and adjacent mudflats (or ancient floodplains), the riverine zone in the lower Omo basin supports a relatively luxuriant vegetation compared with the dry grasslands in the surrounding plains environments. Habitat conditions along the lower Omo have changed significantly during the past century, primarily due to a period of reduced rainfall and river flow, a drop in lake level (L. Turkana) at the river's terminus and increased exposure of natural levees near the Omo's terminus. The floristic and physiognomic character of riverine vegetation were studied at selected sites, ranging from the relatively straight channel section in the modern delta to a strongly meandering (upstream) section of the river. A combination of open canopy woodland, shrub thicket and grassland (with scattered tree emergents) prevailed on the more recently exposed levees, in and near the modern delta; closed canopy woodland and forest predominated on fore levees in the meandering segment. Floristic diversity was relatively low at all study sites. Ficus sycomorus, Tapura fischeri, Melanodiscus oblongus, Celtis integrifolia and Trichilia roka were most significant in upstream forest sites, whereas Cordia sinensis, Acacia mellifera, Ziziphus mauritiana and Ficus sycomorus were more common in communities nearer the lake. Older forests generally contained greater diversity of more woody species, greater tree height and truck diameter than downstream levee vegetation, but they did not exhibit clear stratification. Species patchiness was broadly characteristic of the riverine zone, particularly the mudflats (ancient floodplains) extending away from the fore levees. Fires are frequently set by local inhabitants throughout the grasslands of the lower Omo Basin; within the riverine zone, they are particularly common in the mudflats but have only limited impact on woodland and forest vegetation. It is suggested that fire is a highly significant factor in the establishment of sharp boundaries between the closed canopy woodland/forest along the river and the more xerophytic vegetation of the mudflats.
A Research Supplement - 'Guess Who Won't Be Coming to the Studio'

This is a supplement to the original article, "Guess Who Won't Be Coming to the Studio." This supplement elaborates on statistics in the original article, and reveals that 30, white, male, U.S. Senators, in office 6 or more years, accounted for 61.4% of Congressional guest appearances on Sunday morning talk shows in 2009.
Civil Society and Public–Private Partnerships: Case Study of the Agri-Food Bank in South Africa

AbstractIn recent decades, civil society organizations (CSOs) have joined public–private partnerships (PPPs) to reduce poverty and promote local development. In what follows, I analyze the development of the Agri-FoodBank (AFB) CSO in South Africa in order to critically examine PPPs. As part of the FoodBank South Africa (FBSA) network of food banks, the AFB has emerged to reduce rural and urban food insecurities. Building on the national system of food banks, the AFB aims to train small-scale rural farmers to sell their crops to the food bank’s network of local food organizations which then feed the urban poor. In the case of the AFB, findings suggest that the PPP emerged as a mutually beneficial collaboration between the state and FBSA, as the state needed political power and FBSA needed money. However, for this PPP to form, FBSA completely transformed its mission and structure to fit the state’s preference for rural development projects. Thus, although the AFB formed to empower FBSA, data findings indic...
Trace gas measurements from the atmospheric infrared sounder (AIRS)

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), recently launched aboard NASA's EOS Aqua satellite, is making useful observations in the context of carbon cycle research. AIRS measurements of carbon monoxide, methane, and carbon dioxide are shown and discussed.
A New Low Reynolds Number One-Equation Turbulence Model Based on a k-k-ω Closure

Accurate turbulence modeling remains a critical problem in the prediction capability of computational fluid dynamics. In this paper a new one equation eddy viscosity model is derived from k-ω closure. The ω-equation used in this derivation includes a cross diffusion term that allows the new model to switch between a k-ω or k-e behavior. The new model is used to simulate the flow of several canonical separated flow cases. The open source software OpenFOAM is used for the flow calculations. It is shown that the new model increases the accuracy of flow simulations compared to the commonly used Spalart-Allmaras (SA) and Shear-Stress-Transport (SST) k-ω models for several of these flows.
The Telecommunication Technology Used in Smart Grid

A modern power grid is an important part of national energy strategy,while smart grid is one of the most important directions in modern power grid development.This article describes the basic concept of smart grid and its development in deferent countries,and discusses the characteristics of smart grid and the telecommunication technology used in smart grid development.It points out that the establishment of high-speed,bi-directional,real-time and integrated telecommunication system are the basis of smart grid,and indicates that more attention should be paid on the open telecommunication architecture and unified technical standards.
Basic Category of Marxist Culture and Cultural Self-consciousness

Developing advanced culture in China depends on Marxist Cultural epistemology. Such basic conceptions as cultural social structure, cultural historical system, scientific locations of cultural value orientation, of cultural evolutionary link and relation between culture and civilization are put forward to support culture theory in this essay. Only adhering to Marxist cultural epistemology can we rightly resolve the issue of cultural self-consciousness in particular historical condition.
Desensitization of histamine H1 receptor-mediated cyclic GMP formation in mouse neuroblastoma cells.

Histamine H1 receptor-mediated cyclic GMP formation by intact mouse neuroblastoma cells (clone N1E-115) was attenuated by prolonged exposure to histamine. This desensitization was dependent upon the concentration of histamine and at 10 µM the half-time was ≃9 min, whereas the half-time for resensitization in the absence of histamine was ≃13 min. The order of potency for agonist-induced desensitization correlated with the order of potency for stimulating the H1 receptor (histamine > 2-methylhistamine; 4-methylhistamine, no effect). Pyrilamine (50 nM) was more potent than metiamide (15 µM) in blocking desensitization by histamine. The ED50 for activation and for desensitization by histamine of the receptor-mediated response was approximately equal to its KA for the H1 receptor. Omission of Ca++ in the medium prevented cyclic GMP formation, but did not affect desensitization, suggesting that cyclic GMP formation was not required for the development of the desensitized state. Desensitization was temperature-dependent and marked inhibition of protein synthesis did not affect desensitization or its reversal. Finally, the ED509s for histamine-stimulated cyclic GMP formation in control and in partially desensitized cells were similar while the maximum response was reduced.
Time-resolved absorption spectroscopy of Kr2F(42Γ)

The spectroscopic properties of rare gas halide trimers have been under investigation for several years now. These molecules are of interest for their role in the kinetics of rare gas halide excimer lasers.
Swords and Scabbards: Locke’s Occupation of Shaftesbury and Burke

In issue 409 of his renowned London daily The Spectator, Joseph Addison (1672–1719) hypes his imminent “Pleasures of the Imagination” by assuring his readers that he has something “entirely new” to say about “what it is that gives a Beauty to any Passages of the finest Writers both in Prose and Verse” (Addison and Steele 1891, vol. 2, p. 710; see also Stolnitz 1961, p. 188). There is reason to receive his claim of founding a new discipline as something more than hyperbole. The eighteenth century is distinguished as a robust repository of a heretofore suppressed and distracted aesthetic discourse (Cassirer 1955, p. 312). For the first time since Plotinus (204–70 AD), a systematic effort is undertaken to distinguish the essential attributes of beauty itself. The culmination, of course, is Immanuel Kant’s (1724–1804) Critique of Judgement (1892 [1790]). And aesthetics, finally, is thought to have a field of its own.
Recombinant IL‐7/HGFβ hybrid cytokine separates acute graft‐versus‐host‐disease from graft‐versus‐tumour activity by altering donor T cell trafficking

Given that donor T cells from a transplant contribute both the desired graft-versus-tumour (GVT) effect and detrimental graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), strategies to separate GVHD and GVT activity are a major clinical goal. We have previously demonstrated that in vivo administration of a recombinant (r)IL-7/HGFβ hybrid cytokine, consisting of interleukin-7 (IL-7, IL7) and the β-chain of hepatocyte growth factor (HGFβ), significantly inhibits the growth of cancer cells in murine tumour models. The antit-umour effect of rIL-7/HGFβ is related to a marked infiltration T cells in the tumour tissues. We have also shown that GVHD was not induced in rIL-7/HGFβ-treated T cell-depleted allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients. We show here that, in T cell-replete allogeneic HSCT murine models, rIL-7/HGFβ attenuated acute GVHD (aGVHD), while promoting GVT activity. This was related to an alteration of donor T cell trafficking, with an increased infiltration of donor T cells into tumour tissues and the lympho-haematopoietic system but decreased number of the T cells in the GVHD target organs. Therefore, rIL-7/HGFβ may offer a new tool to alleviate aGVHD while prompting GVT, and to study the molecular regulation of T cell trafficking.
Predicting procedural pain after ureteroscopy: does hydrodistention play a role?

Purpose: To identify perioperative predictors of immediate pain after ureteroscopy, specifically evaluating the impact of hydrodistention from irrigation on pain. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively identified patients who underwent ureteroscopy for the treatment of calculi. Data recorded for these patients included their maximum pain score in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), average flow rate of irrigant used during the procedure, patient and stone characteristics, operative procedure, and details of patients' immediate, post-operative course. Spearman's rho was used to determine the relationship between non-parametric, continuous variables. Then, a linear regression was performed to assess which variables could predict the peak pain score. Results: A total of 131 patients were included in the study. A non-parametric correlation analysis revealed that maximum pain score was negatively correlated with being male (r = −0.18, p=0.04), age (r = −0.34, p<0.001), and post-op foley placement (r = −0.20, p=0.02) but positively correlated with the preoperative pain score (r = 0.41, p<0.001), time in the PACU (r = 0.19, p = 0.03), and the morphine equivalent dose (MED) of narcotics administered in the PACU (r = 0.67, p<0.001). On linear regression, the significant variables were age, preoperative pain score, and stent placement. For every ten-year increase in age post-operative pain score decreased by 4/10 of a point (p = 0.03). For every 1 point increase in preoperative pain score there was a 3/10 of a point increase in the maximum pain score (p = 0.01), and leaving a stent in place post-operatively was associated with a 1.6 point increase in the maximum pain score. Conclusions: Hydrodistention does not play a role in post-ureteroscopy pain. Patients who are younger, have higher preoperative pain scores, or who are stented will experience more post-operative pain after ureteroscopy.
Robust Optimization for Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy Plans with Multi-Isocenter Large Fields

Abstract We have developed a robust optimization approach for intensity modulated proton therapy treatment plans with multi-isocenter large fields. The method creates a low-gradient field dose in the junction regions to mitigate the impact caused by misalignment errors and is more efficient than the conventional junction shifting technique.
Safe separation distance score: a new metric for evaluating wildland firefighter safety zones using lidar

ABSTRACTSafety zones are areas where firefighters can retreat to in order to avoid bodily harm when threatened by burnover or entrapment from wildland fire. At present, safety zones are primarily designated by firefighting personnel as part of daily fire management activities. Though critical to safety zone assessment, the effectiveness of this approach is inherently limited by the individual firefighter’s or crew boss’s ability to accurately and consistently interpret vegetation conditions, topography, and spatial characteristics of potential safety zones (e.g. area and geometry of a forest clearing). In order to facilitate the safety zone identification and characterization process, this study introduces a new metric for safety zone evaluation: the Safe Separation Distance Score (SSDS). The SSDS is a numerical representation of the relative suitability of a given area as a safety zone according to its size, geometry, and surrounding vegetation height. This paper describes an algorithm for calculating pi...
The Orexin System and Hypertension

In this review, we focus on the role of orexin signaling in blood pressure control and its potential link to hypertension by summarizing evidence from several experimental animal models of hypertension. Studies using the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) animal model of human essential hypertension show that pharmacological blockade of orexin receptors reduces blood pressure in SHRs but not in Wistar-Kyoto rats. In addition, increased activity of the orexin system contributes to elevated blood pressure and sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) in dark-active period Schlager hypertensive (BPH/2J) mice, another genetic model of neurogenic hypertension. Similar to these two models, Sprague-Dawley rats with stress-induced hypertension display an overactive central orexin system. Furthermore, upregulation of the orexin receptor 1 increases firing of hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus neurons, augments SNA, and contributes to hypertension in the obese Zucker rat, an animal model of obesity-related hypertension. Finally, we propose a hypothesis for the implication of the orexin system in salt-sensitive hypertension. All of this evidence, coupled with the important role of elevated SNA in increasing blood pressure, strongly suggests that hyperactivity of the orexin system contributes to hypertension.
Fractures fémorales distales sur prothèse totale du genou : plaque versus clou

Abstract The incidence of periprosthetic fractures about a TKA is increasing. Traditionally, these fractures are classified by their location and prosthesis integrity. In the setting of a supracondyar fracture about a well-fixed prosthesis, both plate and nail fixation of the fracture present themselves as options, each with unique benefits and pitfalls. Through review and discussion of the literature, we aim to describe some of the patient, fracture, and implant related factors that should be considered when planning fixation of periprosthetic fractures about a TKA. Additionally, we present several technical pearls that may be useful in the successful treatment of these difficult injuries. Level of evidence 4.
Federal Budget Policy with an Aging Population and Persistently Low Interest Rates

Some observers have argued that the projections for high and rising debt pose a grave threat to the country's economic future and give the government less fiscal space to respond to recessions or other unexpected developments, so they urge significant changes in tax or spending policies to reduce federal borrowing. In stark contrast, others have noted that interest rates on long-term federal debt are extremely low and have argued that such persistently low interest rates justify additional federal borrowing and investment, at least for the short and medium term. We analyze this controversy focusing on two main issues: the aging of the US population and interest rates on US government debt. It is generally understood that these factors play an important role in the projected path of the US debt-to-GDP ratio. What is less recognized is that these changes also have implications for the appropriate level of US debt. We argue that many—though not all—of the factors that may be contributing to the historically low level of interest rates imply that both federal debt and federal investment should be substantially larger than they would be otherwise. In conclusion, although significant policy changes to reduce federal budget deficits ultimately will be needed, they do not have to be implemented right away. Instead, the focus of federal budget policy over the coming decade should be to increase federal investment while enacting changes in federal spending and taxes that will reduce deficits gradually over time.
Enhanced Field Inspections of Closed Landfills Using Aerial Orthophotography in Illinois

AbstractMost closed landfills in Illinois are inadequately lined former dumps with thin earthen covers. Customary walkover inspections of these legacy landfills can overlook defects in the cover an...
Observation of Electron Bernstein Wave Heating in a Reversed Field Pinch

The first observation of rf heating in a reversed field pinch (RFP) using the electron Bernstein wave (EBW) is demonstrated on the Madison Symmetric Torus. Propagation across and heating in a stochastic magnetic field is observed. Novel techniques are required to measure the suprathermal electron tail generated by EBW heating in the presence of intense Ohmic heating. rf-heated electrons directly probe the edge transport properties in the RFP; measured loss rates imply a large noncollisional radial diffusivity.
Volumetric Trends Associated with MR-guided Stereotactic Laser Amygdalohippocampectomy in Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.

Objective Magnetic resonance (MR)-guided stereotactic laser amygdalohippocampectomy is a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of refractory epilepsy in patients with mesial temporal sclerosis. Limited data exist on post-ablation volumetric trends associated with the procedure. Methods 10 patients with mesial temporal sclerosis underwent MR-guided stereotactic laser amygdalohippocampectomy. Three independent raters computed ablation volumes at the following time points: pre-ablation (PreA), immediate post-ablation (IPA), 24 hours post-ablation (24PA), first follow-up post-ablation (FPA), and greater than three months follow-up post-ablation (>3MPA), using OsiriX DICOM Viewer (Pixmeo, Bernex, Switzerland). Statistical trends in post-ablation volumes were determined for the time points. Results MR-guided stereotactic laser amygdalohippocampectomy produces a rapid rise and distinct peak in post-ablation volume immediately following the procedure. IPA volumes are significantly higher than all other time points. Comparing individual time points within each raters dataset (intra-rater), a significant difference was seen between the IPA time point and all others. There was no statistical difference between the 24PA, FPA, and >3MPA time points. A correlation analysis demonstrated the strongest correlations at the 24PA (r=0.97), FPA (r=0.95), and 3MPA time points (r=0.99), with a weaker correlation at IPA (r=0.92). Conclusion MR-guided stereotactic laser amygdalohippocampectomy produces a maximal increase in post-ablation volume immediately following the procedure, which decreases and stabilizes at 24 hours post-procedure and beyond three months follow-up. Based on the correlation analysis, the lower inter-rater reliability at the IPA time point suggests it may be less accurate to assess volume at this time point. We recommend post-ablation volume assessments be made at least 24 hours post-selective ablation of the amygdalohippocampal complex (SLAH).
Introduction to Graphical Interfaces

Programs with graphical interfaces provide a more convenient and effective manner for a user to interact with the application. Using graphical user interfaces (GUIs), users can interact with graphical elements, such as buttons, menus, dialog boxes, and other graphical components. This chapter discusses the design and construction of simple GUIs using the two graphical libraries. OOSimL depends on the underlying language Java that provides two graphical libraries (or packages) of classes. The first library of classes is called the abstract windows toolkit (AWT). The second library is called Swing. Programs that include GUIs, will access these two library packages using the following lines of code.
Medical Imaging in the Diagnosis of Osteoporosis and Estimation of the Individual Bone Fracture Risk

Osteoporosis is a degenerative disease of the bone. In an advanced state, bone weakened by osteoporosis may fracture spontaneously with debilitating consequences. Beginning osteoporosis can be treated with exercise and calcium/vitamin D supplement, whereas osteoclast-inhibiting drugs are used in advanced stages. Choosing the proper treatment requires accurate diagnosis of the degree of osteoporosis. The most commonly used measurement of bone mineral content or bone mineral density provides a general orientation, but is insufficient as a predictor for load fractures or spontaneous fractures. There is wide agreement that the averaging nature of the density measurement does not take into account the microarchitectural deterioration, and imaging methods that provide a prediction of the load-bearing quality of the trabecular network are actively investigated. Studies have shown that X-ray projection images, computed tomography (CT) images, and magnetic resonance images (MRI) contain texture information that relates to the trabecular density and connectivity. In this chapter, image analysis methods are presented which allow to quantify the degree of microarchitectural deterioration of trabecular bone and have the potential to predict the load-bearing capability of bone.
Characteristics of a successful DSS user's needs vs. builder's needs

As decision support systems become more popular, the need for the development of such systems becomes more obvious. This paper takes an in-depth look at the decision support systems and studies their purpose and properties. By investigating the user’s needs, a set of desirable characteristics for a successful DSS are identified. These characteristics are then used to identify a set of essential tools for the builder of the decision support system in order to help him/her to develop a successful decision support system.
Cardiovascular Effects of Inhalant Anesthetic Agents

Halothane and methoxyflurane have been the most commonly used halogenated inhalation anesthetic agents for general anesthesia in veterinary medicine. The use of other agents such as isoflurane, enflurane and desflurane are becoming more common Methoxyflurane is used extensively in veterinary practice, primarily for cost considerations, while it is used very infrequently in research settings. The effects of these agents on the cardiovascular system are very commonly dose-dependent. They tend to increase the central venous pressure, i.e. right ventricular preload. Contractility, aortic pressure and cardiac output tend to decrease with a compensatory increase. in heart rate. There is a direct depression of both the myocardium and vascular smooth muscle. These direct muscle cell effects seem to be associated with a disruption of Ca2+-dependent contractile events. There is also a decrease in efferent sympathetic nervous activity and a decrease in reflex vasoconstriction. These agents also sensitize the heart to the arrhythmogenic activity of catecholamines. l Because of their effect on vascular smooth muscle, the halogenated agents produce marked changes in the peripheral circulation of some vascular beds, these effects are both concentration- and time-dependent.