cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Some biochemical studies in retinitis pigmentosa.

Sixty patients suffering from retinitis pigmentosa were screened by routine clinical laboratory blood determinations. No unusual data were obtained. There was a tendency for the alpha-1 and gamma globulins levels to be high-normal. Biochemical screening of this type is shown to be nonrevealing for this condition. It is, therefore, desirable to look elsewhere for the cause (or causes) of this condition.
Ischemic preconditioning of rat livers against cold storage-reperfusion injury: Role of nonparenchymal cells and the phenomenon of heterologous preconditioning

Abstract Brief periods of ischemia followed by reperfusion render tissues resistant against subsequent prolonged ischemia, a phenomenon called ischemic preconditioning. The effect of ischemic preconditioning on liver transplantation was investigated in relation to sinusoidal endothelial cell injury and Kupffer-cell activation, which are prominent features of storage and reperfusion injury leading to liver graft failure. Rat livers were preconditioned by 5 or 10 minutes of ischemia and 5 minutes of reperfusion and stored in University of Wisconsin (UW) solution for 30 hours. Livers were then reperfused for 15 minutes with physiological buffer containing trypan blue. Under these conditions, injury occurs predominantly to sinusoidal endothelial cells, reflected by trypan blue staining of nonparenchymal cells in histological sections. Ischemic preconditioning decreased nonparenchymal cell killing by more than 50%. When half the liver was preconditioned, sinusoidal endothelial cells were also protected in the contralateral half. Other stored livers were reperfused with nitroblue tetrazolium, which is converted to insoluble formazan by superoxide radicals. Ischemic preconditioning decreased the intensity of formazan deposition over Kupffer cells. Finally, stored livers were transplanted into nontreated rats. Ischemic preconditioning improved recipient long-term survival after 30 hours of cold ischemic storage in UW solution from 30% to 80% and decreased serum tumor necrosis factor-α levels in posthepatic blood 4 hours postoperatively from 98 to 54 pg/mL. In conclusion, ischemic preconditioning protects sinusoidal endothelial cells and suppresses Kupffer-cell activation after storage and reperfusion. As a result, graft survival improves after liver transplantation. Moreover, ischemia to half the liver confers protection to the other half. Such heterologous preconditioning provides a new means to protect liver tissue against ischemia-reperfusion injury without imposing ischemia on the target tissue. ( Liver Transpl 2001;7:292-299. )
Environmental Kuznets curve: threatened species and spatial effects

Abstract Several studies have found evidence of an environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) for various measures of environmental degradation such as pollution and deforestation. We estimate an EKC for threatened bird and mammal species for 113 countries in 2000. For both mammals and birds, our results indicate a possible EKC curve. Birds and mammals face a greater threat on islands and endemic species are more threatened. Both are threatened where freedom is limited. Birds are threatened where political turmoil exists, while mammals are more threatened in Muslim and communistic law countries. Spatial autocorrelation exists, with shocks spilling over into surrounding countries.
The Arabidopsis SERRATE Gene Encodes a Zinc-Finger Protein Required for Normal Shoot Development

Organogenesis in plants depends upon the proper regulation of many genes, but how such necessary changes in gene expression are coordinated is largely unknown. The serrate (se) mutant of Arabidopsis displays defects in the initiation and elaboration of cotyledons and post-embryonic lateral organs. Cloning the SE gene revealed that it encodes a protein with a single, C2H2-type, zinc finger related to genes in other eukaryotes. Consistent with a role in organogenesis, the SE gene is transcribed in shoot meristems and in emerging organ primordia throughout development. Expression of the SE cDNA under the control of a heterologous promoter caused both accelerated and arrested plant growth, and these phenotypes were due to overexpression and co-suppression of the SE gene, respectively. Our analysis of the se mutant and the SE gene suggests a role for the SE gene product in regulating changes in gene expression via chromatin modification. Consistent with this proposed function, a synergistic double mutant phenotype was seen for plants mutant at both the SE locus and the locus encoding the largest subunit of chromatin assembly factor I.
Gate-array library design using local interconnect

An ASIC gate-array library has been created in 0.4 /spl mu/m CMOS technology using a local interconnect level. The gate-array cells in this library are denser than their counterparts in a library without local interconnect. The comparison of two benchmarks, including a 520K-gate ASIC routed with both libraries, further shows that the local interconnect allows higher density of ASIC designs due to more efficient use of the global inter-connect layers.
Software engineering education (SEEd)

In my last column I mentioned the article in Money Magazine regarding the Best Jobs in America. The number one rated job was software engineer (Check out the following URL for more information http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bestjobs/). A number of people responded to my column and were skeptical about my optimistic viewpoint. They basically pointed out several things: First, jobs in many hot areas tend to either be cyclic or fade away (recall the line from the Beatles song 19th Nervous Breakdown - "your father's still perfecting ways of making sealing wax"). Second, one typically does not pursue a career in engineering just to make money. It is something one must like and enjoy as a career path. Please keep these in mind when advising students, however, I still feel optimistic about careers in software engineering for students who are interested in software development and the management of software projects.
Effect of regression from prediabetes to normal glucose regulation on long-term reduction in diabetes risk: results from the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study

Summary Background Our objective was to quantify and predict diabetes risk reduction during the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS) in participants who returned to normal glucose regulation at least once during the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) compared with those who consistently met criteria for prediabetes. Methods DPPOS is an ongoing observational study of participants from the DPP randomised trial. For this analysis, diabetes cumulative incidence in DPPOS was calculated for participants with normal glucose regulation or prediabetes status during DPP with and without stratification by previous randomised treatment group. Cox proportional hazards modelling and generalised linear mixed models were used to quantify the effect of previous (DPP) glycaemic status on risk of later (DPPOS) diabetes and normal glucose regulation status, respectively, per SD in change. Included in this analysis were 1990 participants of DPPOS who had been randomly assigned to treatment groups during DPP (736 intensive lifestyle intervention, 647 metformin, 607 placebo). These studies are registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00004992 (DPP) and NCT00038727 (DPPOS). Findings Diabetes risk during DPPOS was 56% lower for participants who had returned to normal glucose regulation versus those who consistently had prediabetes (hazard ratio [HR] 0·44, 95% CI 0·37–0·55, p Interpretation We conclude that prediabetes is a high-risk state for diabetes, especially in patients who remain with prediabetes despite intensive lifestyle intervention. Reversion to normal glucose regulation, even if transient, is associated with a significantly reduced risk of future diabetes independent of previous treatment group. Funding US National Institutes of Health.
ERAAP associates with MHC I molecules for generation of optimal MHC I peptide repertoire. (APP3P.100)

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) aminopeptidase associated with antigen processing (ERAAP) plays a critical role in the generation of the peptide repertoire presented by MHC I by trimming precursor peptides to optimal length. How ERAAP carries out this function and whether ERAAP activity is influenced by MHC I or other molecules in the ER is unknown. Here, we show that ERAAP physically associates with MHC I during peptide trimming events in the ER. ERAAP or its truncated domains II/III interacted with empty MHC I in the ER, but this interaction was independent of the peptide-loading complex. Most importantly, overexpression of domain II/III interrupted ERAAP function in wild-type cells resulting in altered-peptide presentation by MHC I. Thus, ERAAP function can be regulated by its association with MHC I and perhaps other key ER molecules.
The effect of water content on the compaction behaviour of potato starch

This study compares treatments of the compaction and stress transmission data obtained for potato starch at different water contents in the range 5-25% (wet weight basis) compacted in a cylindrical geometry. An increase in water content leads to a greater density for a given pressure, approaching zero porosity at the higher water contents. The limiting gradient of the Heckel plot, which is the reciprocal of a generalised deformation stress, falls with increasing water content due to a plasticisation mechanism. Electron microscopy of granules taken from the compacts revelas greater plastic deformation at the higher water contents. The ratio of transmitted to applied stresses shows irregular variation with water content and degree of compaction. At the higher water contents (> 17%) the stress ratio is however relatively independent of compacted height as predicted by the classical semiparticulate analysis. Der Einflus des Wassergehaltes auf das Verdichtungsverhalten von Kartoffelstarke. Diese Untersuchung vergleicht Verdichtungsverhalten und Kraftubertragungsdaten, die bei Kartoffelstarke bei verschiedenen Wassergehalten im Bereich von 5-25% (Nasgewicht), verdichtet in zylindrischer Geometrie, erhalten wurden. Die Zunhame des Wassergehaltes fuhrt zu groserer Dichte bei gegebenem Druck und nahert sich der Null-Porositat bei den hoheren Wassergehalten. Der begrenzende Gradient des Heckel-Plans, welcher das Reziproke eines verallgemeinernden Deformationsdruckes ist. fallt mit zunehmendem Wassergehalt infolge eines Plastifizierungsmechanismus, Die Elektronenmikroskopie der aus den Preslingen entnommenen Korner Wassergehalten starkere plastische Deformation. Das Verhaltnis von zugefuhrten zu angewandten Kraften zeigt unregelmasige Variation mit Wassergehalt und Verdichtungsgrad. Bei den hoheren Wassergehalten (>17%) ist jedoch das Kraftverhaltnis relativ unabhangig von der Verdichtungshohe, wie durch die klassische halb-makromolekulare Analyse vorausgesagt wird.
Eros and Revolution: Rossetti and Swinburne on Continental Politics

��� ungry for information about the strange utopia to which he has been transported, William Guest, the time-traveling narrator of William Morris’ ss peculative romanceNews from Nowhere (1890), engages in a long dialogue with Hammond, the only resident of the place who seems genuinely interested in books and history. Seated in the Reading Room of the British Museum, Hammond tells Guest about the principles that govern the new world and the process by which people cast off the old ways. He emphasizes the revolutionary violence that prompted this great change in the middle of the twentieth century. Crushed by the tyrannous power of the bourgeoisie, living like animals, and inspired by newly-imagined socialist dreams of a different life, the people fell into revolution, Hammond suggests, as if into an erotic entanglement. “Looking back now,” he tells Guest, “we can see that the great motive power of the change was a longing for freedom and equality, akin if you please to the unreasonable passion of the lover” (134). Revolution, Hammond suggests, has the character
Abstract T P205: Thrombopoietin Reduces Brain Injury and Cognitive Impairment in Rodent Cerebrovascular Disease Models

Objectives: Thrombopoietin (TPO) reduces brain injury and sensory-motor deficits following stroke in the rat. TPO brain protection is mediated by vascular protection. TPO reduces stroke-induced inflammatory cytokines, matrix metalloproteinase’s and blood brain barrier injury. Here we demonstrate that TPO protects the brain and reduces vascular cognitive impairment in: [1] rat embolic stroke (+/- tissue plasminogen activator; tPA), [2] mouse suture-focal stroke, and [3] mouse chronic carotid stenosis-induced forebrain hypoperfusion. Methods: Rats (Wistar) underwent embolic middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Vehicle, tPA (10 mg/kg, iv), TPO (0.1 μg/kg, iv) or TPO plus tPA were administered 2 hours post-stroke. Mice (C57Bl/6) underwent suture-MCAO or carotid artery stenosis-induced forebrain hypoperfusion and then received Vehicle or TPO (0.3 or 0.1 μg/kg, iv) at 1 hr or 1 day after surgery. Neurological deficits, complex learning and hemispheric infarct size were measured for 1-21 days post-surgery. Results: In rat embolic stroke, tPA or TPO plus tPA improved stroke-induced neurological deficits significantly. Significant post-stroke-induced deficits in APA cognitive performance were improved 87.2±16.4% by TPO or 69.4±9.7% by TPO plus tPA, but not by tPA alone. In mouse suture-focal stroke, brain infarcts were reduced by 64.5±7.7% and neurological deficits were reduced by 90.3±6.4%. In mouse carotid artery stenosis-induced forebrain hypoperfusion a single administration of TPO 1 day after surgery improved APA performance 84.8+3.1% 3 weeks later (all p<0.01). Conclusions: We have demonstrated TPO long-term protection and safety with and without tPA. TPO exhibits protection in mouse suture-focal and in mouse forebrain hypoperfusion-induced complex learning deficits. These data present multiple model and species work that supports the potential “multiple use” of TPO in the future.
Sex, race and age differences in muscle strength and limitations in community dwelling older adults: Data from the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS).

Abstract Background Aging-related muscle weakness is associated with increased risk of functional limitations and disability. This study examined the association between varying degrees of hand grip strength on functional ability in community-dwelling older adults. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of 4289 men and 5860 women ≥60 from 2006 and 2008 waves of the population-based Health and Retirement Study (HRS) were stratified by sex-specific grip strength tertiles (low, mid, high). Prevalence and adjusted odds of physical limitations (PL), and ADL/IADL limitation were calculated by sex, race/ethnicity and age group (60–69, 70–79, 80+). Models were weighted, adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, smoking status, BMI, comorbidities and participation in physical activity. Results Prevalence of PL, ADL and IADL limitations were significantly lower among adults in the highest grip category as compared to those in the lowest grip category. Adjusted odds for PL OR 0.41[0.33,0.52]; ADL OR.51 [0.39,0.67], and IADL OR 0.47 [0.38–0.59] limitations were significantly lower among adults in the highest grip compared to the lowest grip category. However, notable differences were observed in the strength of these associations by gender, race and age group. Conclusion Demographic characteristics are important factors to consider for risk stratification and the development of effective grip strength training interventions for older adults.
Structures and Magnetic Properties of a Family of One-Dimensional Oxides, Sr3M′M″06 (M′ = Co, Ni, Zn and M″ = Pt, Ir)

A family of one-dimensional oxides was synthesized by solid state techniques and their structures determined by powder X-ray and powder neutron Rietveld refinement. The compounds are structurally related to A4PtO6 (A = Ca, Sr, Ba), which contains infinite chains of alternating face-sharing PtO6 octahedra and AO6, trigonal prisms. The compounds exhibit a variety of magnetic properties. The structures and magnetic properties of some of these one-dimensional oxides are discussed.
The Ivory Coast at the Semi-Periphery of the World-Economy

World-system theorists posit that semi-peripheral states, exhibiting a set of specific characteristics, occupy a critical position between the core and the periphery in the world-economy. The characteristics of the Ivory Coast and its role in the world-economy are evaluated to determine whether that country is a member of the semi-periphery. Under conditions of economic growth, sector but not trading-partner diversification occurred. The political leadership played a strong role in promoting state-supported capitalism, and politicization of societal cleavages was averted. France played a critical role in facilitating the movement of the Ivory Coast toward the semi-periphery. The interests of French business and political elites and the Ivorian political leadership coincided. Yet under conditions of economic decline, contrary to the expectations of world-system theorists, trade has not been reoriented, societal division has been exacerbated, and strong state policies have altered the trend. The Ivory Coast's economic dependence on the core has been accentuated (debt crisis) and its economic prowess and leadership position vis-a-vis its periphery weakened. Hence, generalizations regarding the permanence of the Ivory Coast's position in the semi-periphery may be
Phase behavior and complex crystal structures of self-assembled tethered nanoparticle telechelics

Motivated by growing interest in the self-assembly of nanoparticles for applications such as photonics, organic photovoltaics, and DNA-assisted designer crystals, we explore the phase behavior of t...
Are nasal steroids safe

Nasal steroids have emerged as an integral part of rhinitis management. Most studies have shown no evidence of significant hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression from nasal steroid use, at least based on dynamic testing. Bone mineral density loss, glaucoma, and cataract formation are risks associated with systemic steroids, but reports with nasal steroid use are few. Growth retardation has been seen with some nasal steroids, but not others, based on stadiometric growth studies. Further studies are certainly needed to resolve this issue. Nasal steroids, in general, have an excellent safety record.
Biodegradation of MCHM and PPH in River Microcosms and Activated Sludge

AbstractA mixture of coal processing agents, namely crude-MCHM (primarily 4-methylcyclohexanemethanol) and stripped-PPH (primarily dipropylene glycol phenyl ether and propylene glycol phenyl ether) spilled into the Elk River near Charleston, West Virginia in January 2014. The spill resulted in a do-not-use ban on drinking water for up to 10 days. Studies were undertaken to determine the potential for aerobic biodegradation of crude-MCHM and PPH in the riverine system and in the sewage treatment plant postflushing of affected water lines. Complete biotransformation of crude-MCHM occurred only when MCHM was initially <6 mg L−1. When both PPH and crude-MCHM were present, biotransformation of both compounds only occurred when MCHM was initially <2.3 mg L−1 and PPH was <3 mg L−1. Limited conversion of PPH was typically observed (<40%). Estimated maximum specific biodegradation rates were 0.087 mg cis-MCHM (mg biomass h)−1 and 0.23 mg trans-MCHM (mg biomass h)−1. The estimated half saturation constants were ...
The Detroit strains of human epithelial-like cells from nonleukemic peripheral blood.

1. The development of 6 strains of Ep-L cells from human blood was reported. In each instance the Ep-L cells appeared in cultures which had some connection with the administration of estrogenic materials, either to the donor of the blood or to the primary explant of blood in vitro. The possible role of estrogens was discussed, but no final conclusions were reached. 2. The development of stable human Ep-L cells did not require the participation of cells from leukemic blood. 3. Morphologic, karyotypic, and mitotic data on the Detroit blood cell strains were presented. 4. The morphogenesis of the Ep-L cells was described. The most likely source of the Ep-L cells in blood cultures appeared to be lymphocytes, but the role of monocytes could not be ruled out. 5. The significance of our findings with respect to transplantation studies was indicated.
Hydrogeography (Drainage Basins and Rivers) of Afghanistan and Neighboring Countries

The river basins and rivers of Afghanistan rise in the high Hindu Kush, mainly in the central highlands and northeast high mountains. Climate controls of river flow are determined particularly by winter snows in much of the middle and higher altitude area, but also by the summer monsoon in the east. The Amu Darya, Kabul, Helmand, Hari Rud-Murghab, and northern area rivers, together with a few smaller rivers and seasonal streams flow outward from their Afghanistan headwater sources into the surrounding countries of Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Three decades of war from the late 1970s to the present have stopped hydrographical data collection, until recent reestablishment with the result that some figures are suspect, but general knowledge of annual water volumes is becoming more precise. The concomitant loss of water wisdom from the older knowledgeable people does continue to produce problems, as do errors in the collection and transmission of the historical hydrographic data.
Mixing Methods in Organizational Communication Research: Current State and Prospects for Advancing Knowledge

In this review, we examine current practices in mixing methods in communication research. We examined 209 mixed-method organizational communication articles published between 1994 and 2014. Our analysis revealed four trends: (1) the dominance of single-paradigm, interpretive studies; (2) the preponderance of triangulation, complementarity, and development as purposes for mixing methods; (3) varied combinations of methods; and (4) a lack of mixed methods citations. In response to findings, we clarify the value proposition of mixing methods, suggest criteria for when communication researchers should or should not consider mixing methods, and recommend strategies for greater transparency in the reporting of mixed-method research.
Self-Stabilizing Real-Time Decision Systems

We examine the task of constructing self-stabilizing real-time decision systems, which take their input from an external environment, and present a series of results concerning compilers which force the property of self-stabilization onto such systems. We consider compilers that do and do not preserve termination applied to finite state and infinite state programs.
INFLUENCE OF CONDITIONS OF REHYDRATION ON THE ENUMERATION OF BACTERIA FROM FREEZE-DEHYDRATED MODEL FOOD SYSTEMS1

Model systems, consisting of solutions of 2% gelatin, 2% gelatin and 6% glucose, and 9% skimmilk were inoculated with cultures of Pseudomonas, Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Alcaligenes faecalis, Arthrobacter globiformis and Microbacterium lacticum. Viable counts of rehydrated freeze-dehydrated samples usually were highest in skimmilk. Reductions in viable count after rehydration with peptone or tryptone solutions were somewhat smaller than with distilled water. In general, the number of survivors was highest when rehydration was at 25 C with a volume of medium equal to that removed during freeze-dehydration. Rate of rehydration had a marked effect on the number of surviving bacteria. Highest numbers were found when rehydrated at a rate of 10−1 mg/sec/mg dry material.
A Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Boot Camp improves trainee confidence

Introduction New paediatric cardiology trainees are required to rapidly assimilate knowledge and gain clinical skills to which they have limited or no exposure during residency. The Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Boot Camp (PCBC) at Boston Children’s Hospital was designed to provide incoming fellows with an intensive exposure to congenital cardiac pathology and a broad overview of major areas of paediatric cardiology practice. Methods The PCBC curriculum was designed by core faculty in cardiac pathology, echocardiography, electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, exercise physiology, and cardiac intensive care. Individual faculty contributed learning objectives, which were refined by fellowship directors and used to build a programme of didactics, hands-on/simulation-based activities, and self-guided learning opportunities. Results A total of 16 incoming fellows participated in the 4-week boot camp, with no concurrent clinical responsibilities, over 2 years. On the basis of pre- and post-PCBC surveys, 80% of trainees strongly agreed that they felt more prepared for clinical responsibilities, and a similar percentage felt that PCBC should be offered to future incoming fellows. Fellows showed significant increase in their confidence in all specific knowledge and skills related to the learning objectives. Fellows rated hands-on learning experiences and simulation-based exercises most highly. Conclusions We describe a novel 4-week-long boot camp designed to expose incoming paediatric cardiology fellows to the broad spectrum of knowledge and skills required for the practice of paediatric cardiology. The experience increased trainee confidence and sense of preparedness to begin fellowship-related responsibilities. Given that highly interactive activities were rated most highly, boot camps in paediatric cardiology should strongly emphasise these elements.
How Good is Wood? Facts and Myths Regarding Wood as a Green Building Material

Sustainability has been the key driver for decisions concerning building materials. Environmental awareness has increased, and the conscious society and citizens of this world demand more accountability. This has been the driver of the green building movement. The green building programs have been immensely successful—few more than the others. The success has been attributed to their attempt of validating peoples’ efforts toward sustainable development by assigning a tangible metrics. Green buildings, in modern vernacular, have become similar to sustainable development. Although similar, sustainable development and green buildings are not the same rather similar. This paper presents author’s view on how green building is a subset of sustainable development, which is an all-encompassing concept. An explanation of what constitutes a green building material is discussed, while objectively assessing wood with regard to those criteria. Myths and facts regarding the use of wood in green buildings will be discussed using a life cycle approach. Wood is arguably one of the most sustainable materials. However, there are some facets of wood that impede its acceptance in construction. These impediments and their mitigation strategies are discussed in the paper. Statements concerning sustainability require validation, which can be provided by life cycle analysis (LCA). Many green building programs have certain pitfall and challenges—mostly with respect to practices on material selection and lack of performance monitoring. Materials regardless of its origin have a common starting point, neglecting the environmental benefits of certain materials vis-a-vis another. This paper presents how beneficial LCA can be, when included and integrated into the green building rating system and introduces an integrated design concept for green buildings, especially from a material selection standpoint. Since writing of this article, the major green building programs have altered their methodologies to incorporate LCA in their rating program.
THE ALLERGIC RESPONSE TO STINGING INSECTS. II. IMMUNOLOGIC STUDIES OF HUMAN SERA FROM ALLERGIC INDIVIDUALS.

Abstract Specific antibodies in sera of patients sensitive to stinging insects were demonstrated by two immunologic methods. These were tanned-cell hemagglutination and passive transfer skin testing. Two different groups of patients were clearly demonstrated; one group reacted to only one type of insect, while the other group reacted to two or three different types of insects. The interpretation of the apparent cross-reactions was studied by in vivo neutralization experiments. The results indicated that antigens of one of the insects can stimulate the formation of antibodies that also react with constituents in the extracts of one or both of the other insects. The antigens eliciting hypersensitivity were not solely localized in the venom, but were also present in the insect body. The existence of specific venom antigens, in addition to those that are common to the whole body, has also been demonstrated.
Draft Nuclear Genome, Complete Chloroplast Genome, and Complete Mitochondrial Genome for the Biofuel/Bioproduct Feedstock Species Scenedesmus obliquus Strain DOE0152z.

ABSTRACT The green alga Scenedesmus obliquus is an emerging platform species for the industrial production of biofuels. Here, we report the draft assembly and annotation for the nuclear, plastid, and mitochondrial genomes of S. obliquus strain DOE0152z.
Pareto Optimal Decision Making in a Distributed Opportunistic Sensing Problem

We extend prior results on a single decision maker opportunistic sensing problem to a distributed, multidecision maker setting. The original formulation of the problem considers how to opportunistically use “in-flight” sensors to maximize target coverage. In that paper, the authors show that this problem is NP-hard with a strong polynomial heuristic for a single decision maker. This paper extends this by considering a distributed decision making scenario in which multiple independent parties attempt to simultaneously engage in opportunistic sensor assignment while managing interassignment conflict. Specifically, we develop an algorithm that: 1) produces a Pareto optimal opportunistic sensor allocation; 2) requires fewer bits of communicated information than a completely centralized deconfliction approach; and 3) runs in distributed polynomial time once the individual decision makers identify their preferred (optimal) sensor allocations. We validate these claims using appropriate simulations.
Development and Purification of Calmodulin Andibodies: Use in Elucidating Multiple Functions of the Protein in Eukaryotic Cells

Calmodulin (CaM) is the main intracellular Ca receptor in eukaryotic cells. Some aspects are now considered.— I. CaM antibodies as useful biological probes. II. Purification of CaM. III. Production of antibodies, polyclonal or monoclonal, to native CaM. IV. Development of a radioimmunoassay for CaM, and of a way to immunoprecipitate CaM from a complex mixture of cell proteins.
Exploration of Nanoparticle-Mediated Photothermal Effect of TMB-H2O2 Colorimetric System and Its Application in a Visual Quantitative Photothermal Immunoassay

The exploration of new physical and chemical properties of materials and their innovative application in different fields are of great importance to advance analytical chemistry, material science, and other important fields. Herein, we, for the first time, discovered the photothermal effect of an iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs)-mediated TMB (3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine)-H2O2 colorimetric system, and applied it toward the development of a new NP-mediated photothermal immunoassay platform for visual quantitative biomolecule detection using a thermometer as the signal reader. Using a sandwich-type proof-of-concept immunoassay, we found that the charge transfer complex of the iron oxide NPs-mediated one-electron oxidation product of TMB (oxidized TMB) exhibited not only color changes, but also a strong near-infrared (NIR) laser-driven photothermal effect. Hence, oxidized TMB was explored as a new sensitive photothermal probe to convert the immunoassay signal into heat through the near-infrared laser-driven ...
Sensing the electrical activity of single ion channels with top-down silicon nanoribbons

Using top-down fabricated silicon nanoribbons, we measure the opening and closing of ion channels alamethicin and gramicidin A. A capacitive model of the system is proposed to demonstrate that the geometric capacitance of the nanoribbon is charged by ion channel currents. The integration of top-down nanoribbons with electrophysiology holds promise for integration of electrically active living systems with artificial electronics.
The Development of the Mirror Advanced Reactor Study (MARS) End Plasma Technology System

An End Plasma System was designed for the MARS tandem mirror reactor. This includes an electrostatic direct converter, a halo plasma scraper, a vacuum pumping system, and a vacuum enclosure. The converter recovers 327 MW of electrical power and absorbs 239 MW of thermal power from the charged particle energy in the plasma fans. The system provides the vacuum pumping necessary to remove the helium ash, accompanying fuel ions, and impurities present in the reactor. It also provides a means to control the central cell plasma potential relative to the first wall.
ISOLATION OF A MITOGENIC PROTEIN FROM WHEAT GERM WITH THE SAME SPECIFICITY FOR THE LYMPHOCYTE MEMBRANE AS WHEAT GERM AGGLUTININ

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the isolation of a mitogenic protein from wheat germ with the same specificity for the lymphocyte membrane as wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). WGA has been purified and extensively studied by numerous investigators. When human lymphocytes are cultured with an optimal concentration of wheat germ mitogen (WGM), maximum cell proliferation occurs after 7–10 days. Both stimulation and agglutination of lymphocytes by WGM are specifically inhibited by N-acetylglucosamine. When human lymphocytes are separated into T- and B-cell enriched fractions by rosetting techniques using unsensitized sheep erythrocytes, WGM induces negligible proliferation in either fraction over 10 days of culture.
Instructional television and the classroom teacher

The advent of the so-called "new media" of education, primarily instructional television (ITV), has for the first time in history provided a serious challenge to the classic role of the teacher as a purveyor of information. It is now apparent that the teacher's telling and showing role can be accomplished by an agent other than the classroom teacher. The introduction of such a potent medium may well produce a fundamental change in the behavior of the classroom teacher, or at least in her attitudinal structure, in her self-perception, or in her perception of the meaning of teaching. Teachers may perceive these new communications tools as heralding either a desirable or an undesirable change in their professional behavior and as requiring some rather sharp and perhaps difficult modifications in their teaching style. The research reported here was designed to probe this general problem area of the impact of new communications devices, and particularly of instructional television, upon the classroom teacher's role. Specifically, answers were sought to the following questions:
Hume’s Predecessors

Any examination of a philosopher should take into account the discussions, controversies, and positions of the various philosophers of his time. Doing this serves two useful functions. First of all, one has less of a tendency to read the philosopher in light of contemporary problems and thus avoids making the philosopher studied the espouser of the latest positions in the field. I have the impression, from reading many commentaries on various philosophers, that the commentators have the feeling that their endeavors are really justified only if they can show that the man they are commenting on has something to say concerning the latest disputes in the field. I do not have this feeling. Nor do I believe that Hume has anything to say about most of the major problems dealt with by contemporary ethicists. He was, probably, unaware of many of the problems in ethics as they are discussed today. For example, Hume, as I mentioned, is appealed to in many writings on the naturalists versus anti-naturalists controversy. I shall try to show that this appeal to Hume is unjustified, in the sense that Hume himself has very little to say with regard to this controversy. Thus, the first advantage in considering Hume’s predecessors is that it should at least help us to avoid reading Hume out of the context of the problems discussed by his contemporaries. The second advantage of a section on Hume’s predecessors is that many of Hume’s arguments are directed against the rationalists, and these arguments can only be understood if one has some knowledge of their positions.
Modeling frequency of rural demand response transit trips

Abstract Captive riders do not have many travel choices to meet the travel needs as fixed route transit services are not generally provided in rural areas. In many states, demand response transit (DRT) services are provided to meet such needs. However, state public agencies face the dilemma of whether to increase or decrease the service availability for on-call services. To enhance decision making of identifying what the causal factors related to DRT trips, the authors present a set of econometric models by integrating a sample DRT data with other explanatory variables such as land use, socio-economic, and demographic characteristics. Seven count data models including Poisson, Negative Binomial, Zero-inflated Poisson, Zero-inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB), Hurdle Poisson, Hurdle Negative Binomial, and ZINB Mixed Effect were developed to understand the factors that affect DRT trips. The ZINB Mixed Effect model that combines a zero-inflated negative binomial model with random effect was found to provide the best fit. A number of factors showed significant relationship with DRT trip frequency including distance, population density, elderly population, average income, and others. Further, the elasticity effects of these different factors were computed to quantify the magnitude of their impact on DRT. The proposed model can be helpful for transit agencies to predict the frequency of DRT trips and to provide adequate services in rural areas.
Targeting Interventions and Populations

The delivery of health care is undergoing dramatic changes. Important drivers for these changes include the increasing complexity of modern medicine, advancements in health information technology, and the shift in the delivery of care from the hospital to other care settings. As a result, physicians are now more specialized in the services that they provide and are more likely to focus their efforts either in a hospital, outpatient, or long-term care setting. At the same time, an increasing number of eligible older adults and an escalating average cost per beneficiary will make Medicare financially unsustainable. State Medicaid programs are also undergoing rapid changes. Many face potential increases in their financial obligations under the Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act (ACA) and an increasing population of indigent older adults in need of long-term care services. Complex geriatric care is needed to address these healthcare system changes. We will describe the most prevalent and important care models for complex patients. Additionally we will detail efforts to target these interventions to appropriate populations. Finally we will review what is currently known about the quality metrics and outcome measures that have been applied to these models.
Suicide hotspots, interventions, and future areas of work at a Californian university

We identified suicide hotspots and effective interventions at a Californian university. We collected timeline and location data of suicides and interventions occurring 2000-2016. We interviewed administrative staff concerning mental health support and suicide prevention systems. We identified three hotspots. Suicides occurred most often on Thursday, in January, during hours of darkness, in a particular plaza and parking structure. Following interventions, suicides declined dramatically. Many interventions followed international guidelines. Low-cost solutions (e.g. ground deterrents) may have contributed to the suicide decrease. To monitor intervention effectiveness, we suggest a GIS-mediated approach.
Ekphrasis in Ecocriticism: Auden’s “Musée des Beaux Arts” and Bruegel's "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus”

If ekphrasisis a literary description of a visual work of art, and ecocriticism uses literature to study nature and ecological concerns, how do the two mix? The ekphrastic poem “Musee des Beaux Arts” by W.H. Auden not only expands the understanding of the genre but also broadens the understanding of nature. Auden’s poem is quintessentially ekphrastic, yet it has never been examined in terms of how it is both informed by and informs an eco-critical reading. Auden and Pieter Bruegel, the painter of “Landscape with the Fall of Icarus” upon which Auden based his poem, express nature through the imagery of animals; however, Auden enriches his poem by synthesizing ecological nature, human nature, and inner nature, all of which not only help deepen understanding of Bruegel’s painting, but also create a more complex image of nature through the reader’s eyes. By combining Auden’s lyrical beauty, as he was heavily inspired by Freud in understanding suffering as exquisite, with Bruegel’s fantastical imagery, the viewer is able to understand the mythology of Icarus and how human nature, perhaps emphasized through ecological nature, has told the tale of Icarus many times over. Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Kevin Griffith
Zebrafish Breeding and Colony Management

Abstract A key component to the success of zebrafish laboratories is having healthy colonies that spawn well, and providing researchers with the embryos necessary for their research. As laboratories and facilities grow larger, the importance of having well-managed colonies becomes critical. This chapter will review the logistics and physiology of breeding zebrafish in the laboratory, as well as reviewing the challenges and solutions used to manage zebrafish colonies.
Evaluating Resilience of Water Distribution Networks to Operational Failures from Cyber-Physical Attacks

AbstractWater cyber-physical systems (CPSs) have gained increasing interest to improve operational efficiency and reliability. However, due to growing exposure to cyber-physical attacks, cybersecur...
A Robust Filtered Basis Functions Approach for Feedforward Tracking Control—With Application to a Vibration-Prone 3-D Printer

The filtered basis functions (FBF) approach is gaining interest for feedforward tracking control of linear, especially, nonminimum phase systems. It expresses the control input to the plant as a linear combination of basis functions with unknown coefficients. The basis functions are forward filtered through the plant dynamics and the coefficients are selected such that the tracking error is minimized. This article proposes a robust FBF approach for tracking control of linear time invariant systems with known uncertainty. A robust filter is formulated as the inverse of an optimal controller that minimizes a frequency-domain cost function over the known uncertainty. The proposed robust FBF approach filters the basis functions using the robust filter in lieu of the nominal plant dynamics. Stability issues associated with the robust filter are discussed, as are the incorporation of dynamic uncertainty into the robust filter. Applied to a vibration-prone desktop 3-D printer with dynamic uncertainty, significant improvements in tracking accuracy are demonstrated using the robust FBF approach compared to the standard FBF approach.
The Effect of the Cystic Fibrosis Care Center on Lung Transplant Outcomes

Purpose Since 1961 the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has designated certain institutions devoted to treating cystic fibrosis (CF) as Cystic Fibrosis Care Centers (CFCC). Little is known about the benefits of undergoing lung transplantation (LT) at a transplant center with an accredited CFCC. The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes in people with CF who undergo LT at a transplant center with an accredited CFCC. Methods We reviewed the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients for all adult (18 and older) patients with CF who received a first-time LT from 2005 to present. The primary exposure was whether a patient received LT at a designated CFCC. The primary outcome was death or re-transplantation within ten years of LT. Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression were used to assess outcomes. Results From January 2005 to February 2019, 2,887 patients with CF underwent LT. Of the cohort, there were 1,403 (49%) females. The mean (SD) age at transplant was 32.0 (9.9) years. Out of 72 centers in the US performing LT, 53 (74%) were CFCCs, and most patients (88%) were transplanted at a CFCC. A total of 1,009 (35%) patients died over the study period, and 158 (6%) patients underwent a second transplant. The most common cause of death was infection (n=209, 21%). On adjusted Cox modeling, patients transplanted at a CFCC had a 36% reduced risk of death or re-transplantation compared to those transplanted at a non-CFCC (HR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.54-0.75, p Conclusion People with CF who undergo LT at a CFCC have improved survival and longer freedom from re-transplantation compared to those transplanted at non-CFCCs. These patients suffering from CF likely have greater access to specialized CF care at CFCCs which may contribute to improved post-transplant survival.
Fourier optical preprocessing in lieu of deep learning

Deep learning convolutional neural networks generally involve multiple-layer, forward-backward propagation machine-learning algorithms that are computationally costly. In this work, we demonstrate an alternative scheme to convolutional neural nets that reconstructs an original image from its optically preprocessed, Fourier-encoded pattern. The scheme is much less computationally demanding and more noise robust, and thus suited for high-speed and low-light imaging. We introduce a vortex phase transform with a lenslet-array to accompany shallow, dense, “small-brain” neural networks. Our single-shot coded-aperture approach exploits the coherent diffraction, compact representation, and edge enhancement of Fourier-transformed spiral phase gradients. With vortex encoding, a small brain is trained to deconvolve images at rates 5–20 times faster than those achieved with random encoding schemes, where greater advantages are gained in the presence of noise. Once trained, the small brain reconstructs an object from intensity-only data, solving an inverse mapping without performing iterations on each image and without deep learning schemes. With vortex Fourier encoding, we reconstruct MNIST Fashion objects illuminated with low-light flux (5nJ/cm2) at a rate of several thousand frames per second on a 15 W central processing unit. We demonstrate that Fourier optical preprocessing with vortex encoders achieves similar accuracies and speeds 2 orders of magnitude faster than convolutional neural networks.
New Evidence on Stock Analysts’ Monitoring Effect: Its Differential Impact on Cash and Other Assets

Prior studies attribute the positive relation between analyst coverage and firm value to either analysts’ monitoring or marketing effects. In order to distinguish these two effects, we examine the differential impact of analyst coverage on the valuation of cash and other assets. We show that the positive effect exists mainly in cash. As the variation follows from analysts mitigating higher agency costs related to cash, but not from the marketing effect, the results support the monitoring effect. We further show that changes in cash, but not non-cash assets, of firms followed by more analysts are associated with higher subsequent operating performance. In addition, changes in cash of firms followed by more analysts are associated with higher subsequent payout. These evidences confirm the result on higher market valuation of cash and suggest more efficient use of cash associated with analyst following as an explanation for the larger improvement in cash value.
Czech and Slovak Listings: 2015, 2016, and 2017

Due to the volume of materials published, brief summaries have been provided for selected scholarly titles, either copied from or based primarily upon texts by their publishers, followed by lists o...