cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immunomodulation by cytomegaloviruses: manipulative strategies beyond evasion

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains the major infectious cause of birth defects as well as an important opportunistic pathogen. Individuals infected with CMV mount a strong immune response that suppresses persistent viral replication and maintains life-long latency. Loss of immune control opens the way to virus reactivation and disease. The large number of immunomodulatory functions encoded by CMV increases the efficiency of infection, dissemination, reactivation and persistent infection in hosts with intact immune systems and could contribute to virulence in immunocompromised hosts. These functions modulate both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune response and appear to target cellular rather than humoral responses preferentially. CMV encodes a diverse arsenal of proteins focused on altering and/or mimicking: (1) classical and non-classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) protein function; (2) leukocyte migration, activation and cytokine responses; and (3) host cell susceptibility to apoptosis. Evidence that the host evolves mechanisms to counteract virus immune modulation is also accumulating. Although immune evasion is certainly one clear goal of the virus, the pro-inflammatory impact of certain viral functions suggests that increased inflammation benefits viral dissemination. The ability of such viral functions to successfully 'face off' against the host immune system ensures the success of this pathogen in the human population and could provide key insights into disease mechanisms.
Sampling Errors in Satellite Estimates of Tropical Rain

The GATE rainfall data set is used in a statistical study to estimate the sampling errors that might be expected for the type of snapshot sampling that a low earth-orbiting satellite makes. For averages over the entire 400-km square and for the duration of several weeks, strong evidence is found that sampling errors less than 10 percent can be expected in contributions from each of four rain rate categories which individually account for about one quarter of the total rain.
Range image segmentation through pattern analysis of multiscale difference information

This work presents an image segmentation method for range data that uses multi-scale wavelet analysis in combination with statistical pattern recognition. We train a pattern- recognition system with scale-space data from the edge points of a training image. Once trained the system can determine the degree of edgeness of points in a new image. Before designing the segmentation system we set forth several goals. We desire that the system detect boundaries of small as well as large objects, be robust, and have few or no free parameters. Edges in an image respond to edge detectors at different scales; therefore combining edge detection information at multiple scales can create a more complete and robust edge detection. Scale-space refers to a family of derived signals where the fine-scale information is successively suppressed as scale increases. Edge points in images have a specific signature over scale space. We use a pattern recognition method to analyze these signatures as 1-D signals and therefore label edges in an image based on its multi-scale response to a wavelet transform. A fuzzy pattern classifier with one class determines the degree of membership in the edge class for each pixel in the image. Assigning this degree of membership to each pixel creates a fuzzy edge map. a watershed algorithm then creates a segmentation from this edge map. We use the wavelet transform to generate the scale space of a range image. We choose a spline wavelet used by Mallat. A simple, synthetic image with added noise and known edges provides a training set for the pattern recognition system. Known edge points from the image create a probability density function indicating membership in an edge class. The results from analyzing a complex real image are shown.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Studies on the phosphorylation of LY303366

Abstract Phosphorylation of LY303366 ( 1 ) was studied in THF and DMF. Benzyl phosphate 2 could be prepared in excellent yield using LiOH as the base. Both 2 and the derived phosphonic acid monosodium salt 3 were prone to undergo hydrolytic dephosphorylation.
Suppressing the bipolar contribution to the thermoelectric properties of Mg2Si0.4Sn0.6 by Ge substitution

The optimized thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of Mg2Si0.4Sn0.6 peaks at about 750 K because its relatively narrow band gap results in pronounced bipolar transport at higher temperatures. To suppress the bipolar transport, we have conducted a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of Ge-substitution effects on the band structures and thermoelectric properties of Sb-doped Mg2Si0.4Sn0.6−yGey (y = 0, 0.1, and 0.2) synthesized by solid state reaction. The measured transport properties of these compositions can be interpreted by a triple-parabolic-band model based on first-principle calculation of band structures. The results show that the bipolar conduction in the temperature range up to 800 K was effectively suppressed by Ge substitution that widens the band gap. As a side effect, Ge substitution induces the separation of two otherwise converged conduction bands in Mg2Si0.4Sn0.6, leading to reduced thermoelectric performance at low temperatures. The result of these two competing effects is th...
Stress-induced apoptosis and the sphingomyelin pathway

The sphingomyelin pathway is a ubiquitous, evolutionarily conserved signaling system initiated by hydrolysis of the plasma membrane phospholipid sphingomyelin to generate the second messenger ceramide. Sphingomyelin degradation is catalyzed by acid and neutral sphingomyelinase (SMase) isoforms. Most, if not all mammalian cells, appear capable of signaling though the sphingomyelin pathway. Diverse receptor types and environmental stresses utilize the sphingomyelin pathway as a downstream effector system. In some cellular systems, ceramide initiates differentiation or cell proliferation, while in other systems, ceramide signals apoptosis. Recent investigations link the activation of neutral SMase to the extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) cascade and pro-inflammatory responses, and acid SMase to the stress-activated protein kinase/c-jun kinase (SAPK/JNK) cascade and apoptotic responses. Environmental stresses act directly on membrane to activate acid pH-dependent sphingomyelinase (ASMase), whereas cytokine receptors signal ASMase activation through motifs termed death domains. The present review focuses on mechanisms of activation of ASMase and on ceramide signaling of the apoptotic response.
Genesis of Mobile Troughs in the Upper Westerlies

Stability calculations on basic-state velocity profiles representative of the preferred regions for the development of the upper-level disturbances active in Type B cyclogenesis show that conditions in these regions (weak low-level baroclinicity, large low-level static stability, and large surface roughness) are favorable for the growth of baroclinic waves with maximum amplitude near the tropopause. The structure of these waves compares favorably with observations of developing short-wavelength upper-level troughs in the atmosphere. Basic states characteristic of the storm track regions (strong low-level baroclinicity and small surface roughness) favor the development of baroclinic waves with maximum amplitude at the surface. The dynamics of both the surface-trapped and the upper-tropospheric waves can be interpreted concisely using concepts of potential vorticity. Based on these results, a possible mechanism for Type B cyclogenesis in the storm track regions is proposed that involves the propagation and structural modification of baroclinic wave packets in a zonally varying basic flow.
Associative Growth of Steptococcus Lactis and Aerobacter Aerogenes in Milk

Summary Streptococcus lactis was added to sterilized milk at about the level used in cheese making and Aerobacter aerogenes added in different proportions. Growth of both kinds of bacteria in pure culture and together was followed at 20, 30 and 37° C, together with increases in acidity, volatile acidity and gas. Tests also were made on cheddar-like cheese curd. At 20° C. S. lactis grew with A. aerogenes as if the gas former were not present and A. aerogenes was suppressed only slightly. Amounts of gas and volatile acids produced at this temperature were negligible. At 30° C., growth of S. lactis was stimulated some by the growth of A. aerogenes . The growth of A. aerogenes was suppressed when the ratio of rod to coccus in the inoculum was 1: 4,600 but was affected but little when the ratio was 1: 10. Production of gas and volatile acid was suppressed, especially after 12 hr., in the presence of S. lactis . At 30° C., when 100 times the usual inoculum of S. lactis was used and A. aerogenes added to make the ratio of rod to coccus 1: 4,900, growth of each organism in the mixed culture was the same as in pure culture and production of gas and volatile acid was not affected appreciably. At 37° C., growth of both A. aerogenes and S. lactis in the mixture was like that in pure culture. Production of gas and volatile acid was inhibited more when the rod-to-coccus ratio in the inoculum was 1: 5,300 than when it was 1: 10, but the suppression was not great in either instance. Cheddar cheese-like curd from pasteurized milk inoculated with A. aerogenes and S. lactis in different proportions and incubated at 30 or 37° C. showed that gas was produced at a faster rate and in greater amounts at 37 than at 30° C.; increasing numbers of A. aerogenes in the starter led to increased gas production. Large numbers of S. lactis bacteria were unable to prevent gas formation by small numbers of A. aerogenes . It is concluded that the effect of S. lactis on growth and production of gas and volatile acid by A. aerogenes decreases as the temperature is increased from 30 to 37° C. and even large numbers of S. lactis do not suppress small numbers of A. aerogenes to any great extent when growing in autoclaved skimmilk.
Changes in gill histology of fathead minnows and yellow perch transferred to soft water or acidified soft water with particular reference to chloride cells

Fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas, and yellow perch, Perca flavescens, were transferred from moderately soft Lake Superior water (hardness ∼45mg/l as CaCO3) to very soft diluted Lake Superior water (hardness ∼4.5mg/l). Sulfuric acid was added in some treatments by means of a multichannel diluter. In very soft water, chloride cells proliferated in the gills, especially in the epithelium of the secondary lamellae. When exposed to acid, chloride cells were damaged and less abundant in the secondary lamellae, and blood osmolality was reduced at pH 5.0 (x = 188 mOsm/kg, 9 days exposure; normal ∼280 mOsm/kg) for the minnows and pH 4.1 (x = 218 mOsm/kg, 58 days exposure; normal ∼329 mOsm/kg) for the perch. Certain chloride cells which form gland-like clusters in the primary lamellae of perch gills showed little damage even at pH 4.1. The present study supports the view that chloride cells proliferate in very soft fresh water to help maintain ionic balances, and that damage to these cells in acidified soft water may be related to diminished ionoregulatory capacity. The greater acid tolerance of chloride cells of, and the higher blood osmolality maintained by, perch could help to explain the greater tolerance of this species to low pH. In some cases, a species' ability to acclimate to very soft water and acidified soft water may depend upon the number, distribution, and physiology of its chloride cells.
Intrauterine growth restriction and risk for arterial hypertension : a causal relationship?

Aims Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) has been demonstrated to have serious consequences for health in adult age. These include an increased risk for metabolic syndrome, pulmonary and cardiovascular disorders. These disorders are in part secondary to the development of arterial hypertension, which has been demonstrated to be more frequent in individuals subjected to restricted intrauterine growth. Methods A review on publications on pathogenesis and epidemiology of hypertension associated to IUGR. Results Current concepts for this association include a reduced nephrogenesis and increased arterial stiffness, impaired sympathetic regulation and steroid metabolism secondary to IUGR. Early postnatal risk-modifying factors include among others catch-up growth leading to childhood overweight. Conclusion IUGR increases the risk of hypertension in adult life. Identifying relevant risk factors for arterial hypertension will be the basis for the development of preventive concepts to be applied for predisposed individuals.
Factors Limiting Equilibrium in Fabricating a Simple Ferroelectric Oxide: BaTiO3

This paper demonstrates a number of features that can contribute to BaTiO3 being perturbed from an equilibrium condition. The BaTiO3 synthesis study was conducted with a modified citrate process, but the kinetic aspects limiting the equilibrium state are believed to be general to any processing route. The equilibrium conditions can be determined through a detailed analysis of the paraelectric–ferroelectric phase transition data measured by differential scanning calorimeter. Broadened and multiple latent heat peaks are found indicating a distribution of slightly different ferroelectric transition temperatures for nonequilibrated BaTiO3 materials. A number of factors have been found that limit the equilibrium conditions, and these include time at formation conditions of temperature and oxygen partial pressure, a second phase BaCO3, and the rapid nucleation of a BaTi2O5 phase on quenching to room temperature from temperatures in and around 1250°C. All of these nonequilibrium factors that occurs at high temperature lead to the ferroelectric phase transition having multiple phase transitions, owing to regions of the BaTiO3 having different partial Schottky concentrations.
Dopant-Segregation Technique for Leakage Reduction and Performance Improvement in Trigate Transistors Without Raised Source/Drain Epitaxy

A dopant-segregation technique for junction engineering has been demonstrated on trigate transistors using a process flow that does not include raised source/drain epitaxy. It is shown that the dopant-segregation technique reduces the OFF-state leakage current and improves the ON-state performance for NFET devices when compared with control devices built using conventional junction engineering. The dopant-segregation process has no observable impact on PFET device performance.
Commentary. Cognitive impairment and decline are associated with carotid artery disease in patients without clinically evident cerebrovascular disease.

The authors conducted a study to determine if left carotid artery disease compared with right carotid artery disease is associated With cognitive impairment as determined on the Mlodi aied Miini-Mlental State Examination. Duplex ultrasonography wsJas used to assess internal carotid artery stenosis and intinamedia thickness of the com mon carotid artery in 4.006 rioht-handedr men and women without a history of stroke, transiert ischernic attack, or carotid endarterectomy. Stenosis f 503tor greater of the left internal carotid was associated with cognitive impairment in 32 patients. After statistical evaluat on, the authors concluded that high-grade stenosis of the left internal carotid artery is associated w th cogn tive impairment ano decline but the persistence of the associaton. after ad ustment for right-sided stenosis, is not due to vascular risk factors or atherosc erosis.
Prop-2-ynyl 1,2,3,4-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-gluco­pyran­uronate

The structure of the title compound, C17H20O11, has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction at 100 K. The glucopyranose ring exhibits a chair conformation, with all non-H-atom substituents in equatorial positions, and the triple bond is sterically easily accessible, allowing for followup cycloaddition reactions. The glucopyranose ring exhibits chair conformation with all non-H substituents in equatorial positions, and the triple bond is sterically easily accessible, allowing for follow-up cycloaddition reactions.
Multi-grained level of detail using a hierarchical seamless texture atlas

Previous algorithms for view-dependent level of detail provide local mesh refinements either at the finest granularity or at a fixed, coarse granularity. The former provides triangle-level adaptation, often at the expense of heavy CPU usage and low triangle rendering throughput; the latter improves CPU usage and rendering throughput by operating on groups of triangles.We present a new multiresolution hierarchy and associated algorithms that provide adaptive granularity. This multi-grained hierarchy allows independent control of the number of hierarchy nodes processed on the CPU and the number of triangles to be rendered on the GPU. We employ a seamless texture atlas style of geometry image as a GPU-friendly data organization, enabling efficient rendering and GPU-based stitching of patch borders. We demonstrate our approach on both large triangle meshes and terrains with up to billions of vertices.
Human Cytomegalovirus Elicits a Coordinated Cellular Antiviral Response via Envelope Glycoprotein B

Previous studies have shown that human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a potent elicitor of interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) expression. Induction of the interferon pathway does not require replication-competent virus, and envelope glycoprotein B (gB) from CMV is a viral structural component that can directly induce transcription of ISGs. Here we extend these earlier findings by defining the consequences of inducing the interferon pathway. We found that cells respond to CMV or soluble gB by establishing a functional antiviral state within cell types critical in CMV biology, such as fibroblasts and endothelial cells. We have also discovered new insights into the mechanism by which the pathway is initiated. Interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), a key transcriptional regulator of cellular interferon responses, is activated by CMV virions and soluble gB. Thus, IRF3 becomes activated via "outside-in" signal transduction events. This is a novel mechanism of activation of this key transcription factor by viruses. In comparison to soluble gB (gB(1-750)), which comprises the entire ectodomain of gB, a truncation mutant encompassing only the amino-terminal region of gB (gB(1-460)) was markedly less effective at inducing antiviral responses. This indicates that the region of gB from residues 461 to 750 is important for initiation of the antiviral response. In addition, CMV and gB establish an antiviral state in alpha/beta interferon null cells, illustrating that primary induction of ISGs by CMV and gB is sufficient to establish the antiviral response and that interferon secretion is not necessary for the antiviral effect. Taken together, our findings reveal that CMV initiates a coordinated antiviral response through contact between gB and an as-yet-unidentified cell surface receptor(s).
Muscle Synergies Robustly Control Forces for Balance Control

We demonstrate that a limited number of muscle synergies can be used to reconstruct complex muscle activation patterns and forces produced during two types of postural perturbations. Our results suggest that low-dimension neural command signals may activate muscle synergies to produce high-dimension muscle activation patterns. Furthermore, muscle synergies may be used to coordinate multijoint muscle actions for the control of high-level task variables. Muscle synergies may represent natural building blocks for motor behaviors and provide insight into neuroengineered strategies for motor rehabilitation
Nanofabric topologies and reconfiguration algorithms to support dynamically adaptive fault tolerance

Emerging nanoelectronics are expected to have very high manufacture-time defect rates and operation-time fault rates. Traditional N-modular redundancy (NMR) exploits the large device densities offered by these nanoelectronics to tolerate these high fault rates by allocating redundant resources according to the worst case fault rates. However, this approach is inflexible when the fault rates are time varying. In this paper, we propose a dynamically adaptive NMR approach by developing: (i) a genre of nanofabric topologies that supports sharing of redundancies in the NMR approach so as to adapt to the time varying fault rates and (ii) reconfiguration algorithms for these topologies to deal with fault tolerance loss caused by manufacturing defects and operation-time online faults, respectively. Simulation results verify that the ability to construct reliable systems, possibly the paramount consideration in constructing working applications in nanoelectronics, is significantly improved with the proposed flexible NMR architecture and the reconfiguration algorithms.
Adaptive evaluation of the Sommerfeld-type integral using the chirp z-transform

An adaptive integration algorithm for the computation of the Sommerfeld-type integral has been developed. The algorithm allows the user to specify the precise location of the desired range sample points and change the integration contour. In addition, the algorithm can be used to recompute the Sommerfeld-type integral with different range resolutions without recomputing the integrand. It is also shown how the algorithm can be used to adaptively increase the number of integration points required to evaluate the Sommerfeld-type integral. Numerical results show that the algorithm is useful in many interesting areas. >
Constraining human body tracking

Our paper addresses the problem of enforcing constraints in human body tracking. A projection technique is derived to impose kinematic constraints on independent multibody motion: we show that for small motions the multibody articulated motion space can be approximated by a linear manifold estimated directly from the previous body pose. We propose a learning approach to model nonlinear constraints; we train a support vector classifier from motion capture data to model the boundary of the space of valid poses. Linear and nonlinear body pose constraints are enforced by first projecting unconstrained motions onto the articulated motion space and then optimizing to find points on this linear manifold that lie within the non-linear constraint surface modeled by the SVM classifier.
Paternal Involvement and Fetal Morbidity Outcomes in HIV/AIDS A Population-Based Study

Prior research indicates that infants with absent fathers are vulnerable to unfavorable fetal birth outcomes. HIV is a recognized risk factor for adverse birth outcomes. However, the influence of p...
Studies of Elodea nuttallii grown under photorespiratory conditions. III. Quantitative cytological characteristics

Abstract.Elodea nuttallii was grown in primary effluent from domestic wastewater under conditions in which CO2 may be limiting. However, high photosynthetic inorganic carbon uptake rates have been reported for Elodea under these conditions. In order to determine if leaf cell structure showed modifications which would support proposed models of a plasma membrane (PM) bicarbonate transport system and observed high photo-synthetic rates, leaf cell ultrastructure was analysed using quantitative techniques (stereology). A Fold Index (FI) calculated for the PM showed that infolding increased surface area to 2.15 times that of an idealized cell of the same shape and size. Association Indices (Sa) showed a significant association of the mitochondria with the PM. These observations support models for an ATPase-driven HCO3-cation cotransport system in Elodea cells. High chloroplast thylakoid surface density values (Sv) were similar to C4:monocots and indicated high light-gathering potential. The granal/stromal (g/s), granal/cristae (g/c), and stromal/cristae (s/c) membrane ratios were similar to those of C3 plant cells. Thus, Elodea chloroplasts and cells exhibited some structural features similar to both C3 and C4 plants. Membrane-bound inclusion bodies, which occupied 1% of the cell volume, were also observed in the leaf cells. Cell walls and nucleoid regions were absent in these bodies and X-ray (EDAX) analysis failed to detect any element (above the resolution limit of atomic no. 12) in substantial quantities. Inclusion bodies were observed in both the cytoplasm and the periplast and remain unidentified. A model is proposed for Elodea using an ATPase proton pump in the plasma membrane which extrudes protons into the periplast space between the cell wall and plasma membrane. This proton gradient is coupled to a bicarbonate symport.
Minority-Related Stressors and Coping Processes among African American College Students.

This study is an investigation of stress and coping among African American students at a predominantly White college/university (PWCU) and a Historically Black College/University (HBCU) and their relationship to academic performance. Participants were 203 African American students (101 from a mid-size predominantly White midwestern state university and 102 from an HBCU located on the East Coast). Perceived stress, minority status stress, and coping behaviors were measured. Multivariate comparisons revealed that African American students on the PWCU campus experienced higher levels of minority status stressors compared to their counterparts at the HBCU. Participants from both universities were generally similar in their use of coping strategies and in their levels of overall perceived stress. An exploratory model and an alternate model of stress and coping processes were tested. Both models highlight the unique contribution of minority status stressors to academic performance.
DUAL SUPERSYMMETRY ALGEBRAS FROM PARTIAL SUPERSYMMETRY BREAKING

Abstract The partial breaking of supersymmetry in flat space can be accomplished using any one of three dual representations for the massive N=1 spin-3/2 multiplet. Each of the representations can be “unHiggsed”, which gives rise to a set of dual N=2 supergravities and supersymmetry algebras.
Performance optimization of checkpointing schemes with task duplication

In checkpointing schemes with task duplication, checkpointing serves two purposes: detecting faults by comparing the processors' states at checkpoints, and reducing fault recovery time by supplying a safe point to rollback to. In this paper, we show that, by tuning the checkpointing schemes to a given architecture, a significant reduction in the execution time can be achieved. The main idea is to use two types of checkpoints: compare-checkpoints (comparing the states of the redundant processes to detect faults) and store-checkpoints (storing the states to reduce recovery time). With two types of checkpoints, we can use both the comparison and storage operations in an efficient way and improve the performance of checkpointing schemes. Results we obtained show that, in some cases, using compare and store checkpoints can reduce the overhead of DMR checkpointing schemes by as much as 30 percent.
Conceptualizing healthcare innovation sustainment

Background. The declining quality, intensity, and comprehensiveness of healthcare innovation use following implementation are well-documented. Little is known about healthcare innovation sustainmen...
Fabrication of a dual-tier thin film micropolarization array

A thin film polarization filter has been patterned and etched using reactive ion etching (RIE) in order to create 8 by 8 microns square periodic structures. The micropolarization filters retain the original extinction ratios of the unpatterned thin film. The measured extinction ratios on the micropolarization filters are approximately 1000 in the blue and green visible spectrum and approximately 100 in the red spectrum. Various gas combinations for RIE have been explored in order to determine the right concentration mix of CF(4) and O(2) that gives optimum etching rate, in terms of speed and under-etching. Theoretical explanation for the optimum etching rate has also been presented. In addition, anisotropic etching with 1 microm under cutting of a 10 microm thick film has been achieved. Experimental results for the patterned structures under polarized light are presented. The array of micropolarizers will be deposited on top of a custom made CMOS imaging sensor in order to compute the first three Stokes parameters in real time.
In-circuit test fixture

Two failure modes are identified for the conventional in-circuit fixture. The fixture is compared with a conventional fixture and is found to be superior. The fixture provides a coaxial-like raceway to propagate signals. Crosstalk and mismatch are greatly reduced. >
A low-power video-rate pyramid VQ decoder

This paper describes a pyramid vector quantization (VQ) decoder chip used for real-time video decompression. The chip is designed for portable applications with very low power requirements, operating at a 1.35 V supply and consuming 6.7 mW with a 6.4 MHz clock, sufficient to decode 1.27 Mpixels/s for a color display of 176 pixels wide, 240 lines, at 30 frames per second. The chip performs decompression by converting pyramid vector quantization codewords into data values and integrates all functionality on a single die, requiring no external hardware support or memory.
Testing interaction in three-way anova tables with a single observation per cell

A common approach in analyzing nonreplicated data is to omit the highest order interaction and regard it as error. This paper discusses the use of a multiplicative model, called a quadrilinear model, in order to separate variability due to the three-factor interaction from random error, and also examines its significance in nonreplicated three-factor experiments. The quadrilinear model is a nonreplicated three-way multiplicative model with quadrilinear terms. These estimated quadrilinear terms can be obtained by performing a three-mode principal component analysis of the residuals. In particular, we derive a criterion to select an appropriate number of multiplicative terms to describe significant three-factor interaction. A table of degrees of freedom associated with the three-factor interaction term is constructed by applying Monte Carlo simulations. An ANOVA table with estimated experimental error variance and
Health Effects of Inhaled Gasoline Engine Emissions

Despite their prevalence in the environment, and the myriad studies that have shown associations between morbidity or mortality with proximity to roadways (proxy for motor vehicle exposures), relatively little is known about the toxicity of gasoline engine emissions (GEE). We review the studies conducted on GEE to date, and summarize the findings from each of these studies. While there have been several studies, most of the studies were conducted prior to 1980 and thus were not conducted with contemporary engines, fuels, and driving cycles. In addition, many of the biological assays conducted during those studies did not include many of the assays that are conducted on contemporary inhalation exposures to air pollutants, including cardiovascular responses and others. None of the exposures from these earlier studies were characterized at the level of detail that would be considered adequate today. A recent GEE study was conducted as part of the National Environmental Respiratory Center (www.nercenter.org). In this study several in-use mid-mileage General Motors (Chevrolet S-10) vehicles were purchased and utilized for inhalation exposures. An exposure protocol was developed where engines were operated with a repeating California Unified Driving Cycle with one cold start per day. Two separate engines were used to provide two cold starts over a 6-h inhalation period. The exposure atmospheres were characterized in detail, including detailed chemical and physical analysis of the gas, vapor, and particle phase. Multiple rodent biological models were studied, including general toxicity and inflammation (e.g., serum chemistry, lung lavage cell counts/differentials, cytokine/chemokine analysis, histopathology), asthma (adult and in utero exposures with pulmonary function and biochemical analysis), cardiovascular effects (biochemical and electrocardiograph changes in susceptible rodent models), and susceptibility to infection (Pseudomonas bacteria challenge). GEE resulted in significant biological effects for upregulation of MIP-2, clearance of Pseudomonas bacteria, development of allergic response after in utero exposure, and cardiovascular indicators of vasoconstriction, oxidant stress, and damage.
A simplified pivoting strategy for symmetric tridiagonal matrices

The pivoting strategy of Bunch and Marcia for solving systems involving symmetric indefinite tridiagonal matrices uses two different methods for solving 2 × 2 systems when a 2 × 2 pivot is chosen. In this paper, we eliminate this need for two methods by adding another criterion for choosing a 1 × 1 pivot. We demonstrate that all the results from the Bunch and Marcia pivoting strategy still hold. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The adsorption of alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride onto cotton nonwoven hydroentangled substrates at the solid–liquid interface is minimized by additive chemistries

Quaternary ammonium compounds, commonly referred to as quats, are cationic surfactants widely used as the active biocidal ingredient for disposable disinfecting wipes. The cationic nature of quats ...
The Familial Influence in Anxiety Disorders

Recent research shows that anxiety disorders are prevalent in both children and adults (e.g., Anderson, Williams, McGee, & Silva, 1987; Myers et al., 1984; Regier et al., 1984). Based on data from the Epidemiological Catchment Area Program (e.g., Regier et al., 1984), 6-month prevalence rates for adult anxiety disorders were found to range from 5.4% to 13.4%. Anderson et al. (1987) examined the prevalence of DSM-III disorders in 792 11-year-old children from the general population in New Zealand. Separation anxiety disorder was found to have one of the highest prevalences, with overanxious disorder and simple phobia having intermediate prevalences.
Milosevic's Witnesses

If Slobodan Milosevic calls the defense witnesses he says he'll call, he'll get a world television audience larger than Mohammed Ali got for the "Thrilla in Manilla." But the size of the audience won't necessarily translate into a decision in Milosevic's favor.
Eminent Domain and the Rhetorical Construction of Sovereign Necessity

This article examines the logic of necessity in eminent domain cases in the United States. While much has been written about “public use” justifications as adjudicated by courts, less attention has...
System N in eNdothelium.

amino acids are the elements of protein structure, and their side chains largely determine the function of the proteins they constitute. Some amino acids, such as glycine and glutamate, are important neurotransmitters. Some are metabolized to signaling molecules such as glutamate to γ-aminobutyric
Direct observation of binding stress-induced crystalline orientation change in piezoelectric plate sensors

We have examined the mechanism of the detection resonance frequency shift, Δf/f, of a 1370 μm long and 537 μm wide [Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3]0.65[PbTiO3]0.35 (PMN-PT) piezoelectric plate sensor (PEPS) made of a 8-μm thick PMN-PT freestanding film. The Δf/f of the PEPS was monitored in a three-step binding model detections of (1) binding of maleimide-activated biotin to the sulfhydryl on the PEPS surface followed by (2) binding of streptavidin to the bound biotin and (3) subsequent binding of biotinylated probe deoxyribonucleic acid to the bound streptavidin. We used a PMN-PT surrogate made of the same 8-μm thick PMN-PT freestanding film that the PEPS was made of but was about 1 cm in length and width to carry out crystalline orientation study using X-ray diffraction (XRD) scan around the (002)/(200) peaks after each of the binding steps. The result of the XRD studies indicated that each binding step caused the crystalline orientation of the PMN-PT thin layer to switch from the vertical (002) orientation to the ho...
Hospital Risk Management and the U.S. Legal System: An Introduction to U.S. Medical Malpractice Tort Law

In the US hospital setting, risk management focuses on mitigating hospital exposure to loss from legal liability, including medical malpractice tort law claims. This chapter provides perspective on three critical components of the US medical malpractice tort law: process, substance, and justification. Framed in this way, the discussion that follows illuminates both the practice and the policy that forms the foundation of US medical malpractice tort law.
Optical coherence tomography findings after chronic total occlusion interventions: Insights from the “AngiographiC evaluation of the everolimus-eluting stent in chronic Total occlusions” (ACE-CTO) study (NCT01012869)

Abstract Background There is limited information on optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of chronic total occlusions (CTOs). OCT allows high resolution imaging that can enhance understanding of the vascular response after stenting of chronically occluded vessels. Methods The Angiographic Evaluation of the Everolimus-Eluting Stent in Chronic Total Occlusions (ACE-CTO) study collected angiographic and clinical outcomes from 100 patients undergoing CTO PCI with the everolimus-eluting stent (EES). OCT was performed 8-months post stenting in 62 patients. Every third frame was analyzed throughout the course of the stented arterial segment. Lumen contours were semi-automatically traced and stent struts were manually delineated, with automatic measurement of the strut to lumen distance. Struts on the luminal side of the lumen contour were classified as malapposed if the distance to the lumen contour exceeded 0.108 mm. Results A total of 44,450 struts in 6047 frames were analyzed, of which 4113 9.3%, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 9.0% to 9.5%) were malapposed and 1230 (2.8%, 95% CI 2.6% to 2.9%) were uncovered. Fifty-five of 62 patients (88.7%, 95% CI 78.5% to 98.4%) had at least one malapposed stent strut and 50 patients (80.7%, 95% CI 69.2% to 88.6%) had at least one uncovered stent strut. Mean strut-intimal thickness of the apposed and malapposed struts was 0.126 ± 0.140 mm and − 0.491 ± 0.440 mm, respectively. Conclusion High rates of stent strut malapposition and incomplete stent strut coverage were observed after CTO PCI using EES, highlighting unique challenges associated with stent implantation in CTOs.
Nasal versus tracheobronchial biopsies to diagnose primary ciliary dyskinesia: A meta-analysis.

Objectives/Hypothesis To systematically review the literature regarding the efficacy of different biopsy sites and methods to obtain an adequate ciliary sample for ultrastructural examination with electron microscopy (EM) for the diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). Study Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods A literature search was conducted with respect to the diagnosis of PCD. English studies with five or more subjects were included. Successful biopsy was defined as an adequate ciliary sample to make or exclude the diagnosis of PCD. Results Eight studies met inclusion criteria. These studies included 1,993 patients who underwent 2,299 ciliary biopsies. Included studies were level 3 or 4 evidence. The weighted pooled proportion of obtaining an adequate specimen from a nasal biopsy was 76% (95% confidence interval [CI], 64%–86%) versus 66% (95% CI, 62%–69%) for a tracheobronchial site (P = 0.10). The pooled proportion of obtaining an adequate sample was 68% for both brush and forceps biopsy groups (95% CI, 58%–77% and 54%–81%, respectively). Nasal scraping yielded a higher proportion of adequate specimens (pooled proportion of 92%; 95% CI, 82%–99%) than other techniques (P = 0.002). Conclusion Tissue biopsy is one component of diagnosing PCD. We found no significant difference between biopsy sites in terms of obtaining an adequate ciliary sample for EM evaluation. This suggests that nasal biopsy should be preferred for patients old enough to tolerate an office biopsy without the need for general anesthesia. The merits of nasal versus tracheobronchial biopsy in the operating room depend more on the risks and benefits of the procedure being performed. Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope, 127:6–13, 2017
Rereading, Rewriting, Revisioning: Poststructuralist Interpretation and Literary Pedagogy

The seven critical papers discussed in the foregoing chapter are best read in their dialogic sequence, in their effort to trace ‘in other words the figure in the carpet through every convolution’ (FIC, p. 303). Despite their understandable desire for hermeneutic closure, the students who participated in this experiment chose to follow James in a process of reperusal and ‘watched renewal [which is] livelier than that of the accepted repetition’, producing ‘so many more of the shining silver fish afloat in the deep sea of one’s own endeavour than the net of the widest casting could pretend to gather in’ (The Art of the Novel, p. 345). Rather than contain the process of figural revision triggered by their critical rewriting, these readers felt encouraged to explore the ‘wealth of margin’, the site where meaning is produced in the interaction between text and reader. Their attention was thus turned on the interpretive activities (gap-filling, selection, integration, schematisation, restructuring) and modes of critical articulation available to readers who wish to channel their hermeneutic interest into a productive mode of criticism.
Distance from hospital impacts adverse event detection after outpatient endoscopy

Background and Aims Monitoring adverse events (AEs) after GI endoscopy is an endorsed quality measure but is challenging to implement in practice. Patients with major AEs may seek care elsewhere after endoscopy. We aimed to determine the hospital utilization patterns of patients with AEs after ambulatory endoscopy. Methods We used the HealthLNK Data Repository, which uses a software application for integration of deidentified, patient-level clinical data across institutions. Data for patients undergoing outpatient endoscopy from 2010 to 2011 at 5 Chicago-area hospitals were used. Early mortality was defined as death no more than 2 months after the outpatient procedure. AEs were defined as a hospital admission for perforation, bleeding, or pancreatitis the same or following month after endoscopy. Results During the study period, 42,842 outpatient procedures were performed in 22,898 unique individuals. Early mortality occurred in 86 patients (.4%). Per-patient mortality was greatest after outpatient ERCP (2.5%, P P = .02). In total, 8.3% of ambulatory endoscopies were associated with potential endoscopy-related AEs. The observed rate of potential AEs trended downward as patients' home zip codes moved farther from the index hospital ( P = .01). Conclusions Nearly half of patients who die soon after outpatient endoscopy are not hospitalized at their index hospital after endoscopy. The observed AE rate was higher for patients living closer to the index hospital, suggesting that patients who live farther away are less likely to return to the index hospital for emergency care. Novel methods to efficiently track outcomes after outpatient endoscopy are needed.
Instagram: What Makes You Post?

This study aims to understand whether there is a relationship between what women view on Instagram and what they choose to post to their own personal accounts. The top three accounts on Instagram, belonging to Beyonce, Kim Kardashian and Ariana Grande, are believed to be large influencers over women who use the application, and reflect examples of society’s “ideal woman.” This research is a step towards the future of Social Media research, as Instagram has yet to be involved in a large number of studies. Sixty-five women ages 18-35 volunteered to take a survey, which posed multiple questions regarding their use and understanding of Instagram, the types of photos they post, and the motivation behind their posting habits. Results show that from the sampled population, there were not many individuals who actually follow the top three accounts on Instagram, which meant that those accounts did not actually have an influence over the types of photos the women were choosing to post.
Counting the Experiences and Beliefs of Secondary Teachers Striving to Teach Mathematics for Social Justice in Urban Schools

This article contributes a deeper understanding of teachers’ experiences with and beliefs about teaching mathematics for social justice in urban schools. In-depth, phenomenological interviews were ...
Helping Local Residents Make Informed Decisions with Interactive Risk Visualization Tools

This experience report shares primary findings from a user experience (UX) study conducted on Climate Central's Risk Finder, an interactive sea level rise viewer (ISLRV) available to the public online. The report begins with a brief overview of ISLRVs, positioning them as visual risk communication tools from a rhetorical perspective. Second, the report outlines the methods used: semi-structured contextual interviews with think-aloud protocol and screencasting. Third, the report shares the findings of the study and discusses how they might be integrated into future iterations of ISLRVs designed for more broad public consumption. The report ends with recommendations for testing possibilities with ISLRVs moving forward.
Splendor and misery of adaptation, or the importance of neutral null for understanding evolution

The study of any biological features, including genomic sequences, typically revolves around the question: what is this for? However, population genetic theory, combined with the data of comparative genomics, clearly indicates that such a “pan-adaptationist” approach is a fallacy. The proper question is: how has this sequence evolved? And the proper null hypothesis posits that it is a result of neutral evolution: that is, it survives by sheer chance provided that it is not deleterious enough to be efficiently purged by purifying selection. To claim adaptation, the neutral null has to be falsified. The adaptationist fallacy can be costly, inducing biologists to relentlessly seek function where there is none.
Finite Sets and Infinite Sets

Infinite sets appear to behave more strangely than finite ones, at least from our perspective as human beings, whose daily experience is of the finite. The difficulty of dealing with infinite sets was raised by the ancient Greek Zeno in his four “paradoxes”; see [Ang94, Chapter 8] or [Boy91, pp. 74–76] for details. From a modern perspective Zeno’s paradoxes are not paradoxes at all, and can be resolved using tools from real analysis, developed long after Zeno. However, these paradoxes had a historical impact on the study of the infinite, and they indicate how much trickier it is to understand the infinite than the finite.
The Role of Information regarding Shapewear's Performance in Female Consumers' Online Purchase Decision

The purpose of this study to examine the role that visual and verbal information about the shapewear’s performance in consumers’ perceived performance risk and perceived physical attractivenesss, which in turn affects their attitudes and purchase intentions toward the shapewear and the e-tailer. As shown in Figure 1, a conceptual model was proposed.