cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
T cell populations primed by hapten sensitization in contact sensitivity are distinguished by polarized patterns of cytokine production: interferon gamma-producing (Tc1) effector CD8+ T cells and interleukin (Il) 4/Il-10-producing (Th2) negative regulatory CD4+ T cells.

Contact hypersensitivity (CHS) is a T cell-mediated response to hapten sensitization of the epidermis. The roles of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in CHS have remained unclear, however, as studies to define either subset as the T cells mediating CHS have provided conflicting results. The goal of this study was to correlate the in vivo function of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in CHS with the cytokines produced by each T cell population. Antibody-mediated depletion of CD4+ T cells before sensitization of BALB/c mice with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) or oxazolone (Ox) resulted in increased and prolonged CHS responses, indicating CD4+ T cells as negative regulators of the response. Depletion of CD8+ T cells resulted in low or abrogated responses, indicating CD8+ T cells as the effector cells in CHS. Sensitization with DNFB or Ox induced lymph node cell populations of CD8+ T cells producing interferon (IFN)-gamma and no interleukin (Il) 4 or Il-10, and CD4+ T cells producing Il-4 and Il-10 and no or little detectable IFN-gamma. The polarized patterns of cytokine production were stimulated by culture of hapten-primed lymph node cells either on anti-T cell receptor antibody-coated wells or with semipurified Langerhans cells isolated from hapten-sensitized mice. Stimulation of cytokine production during culture of hapten-primed CD4+ or CD8+ T cells with Langerhans cells was hapten specific and restricted to class II or class I major histocompatibility complex, respectively. The induction of the CD4+ and CD8+ T cells producing the polarized patterns of cytokines was not restricted to BALB/c mice, as cells from Ox sensitized C57B1/6 and B10.D2 mice produced the same patterns. Collectively, these results expose the induction of two polarized and functionally opposing populations of T cells by hapten sensitization to induce CHS: IFN-gamma-producing effector CD8+ T cells and Il-4/Il-10-producing CD4+ T cells that negatively regulate the response.
Aerosolized antibiotics for treating hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia

Hospital-acquired pneumonia is a common complication that continues to have a poor cure rate in some patients with intravenous therapy alone. Aerosolized antibiotics are theoretically attractive in an attempt to optimize lung concentrations of antibiotics. Limited data suggest that aerosolized aminoglycosides or colistin in addition to intravenous therapy results in good response rates in patients with multidrug-resistant organisms or nonresponding pneumonia. Adverse events can occur, especially with colistin. When used, care should be taken to properly compound and administer aerosolized antibiotics to ensure tolerability and good drug delivery.
Apolipoprotein Ε and Alzheimer disease

Apolipoprotein (apo) E, a multifunctional protein with central roles in lipid metabolism and neurobiology, has three common isoforms (apoE2, apoE3, and apoE4) with different effects on lipid homeostasis and neurobiology. Unlike apoE3, the most common isoform, apoE4, is associated with increased risk of developing Alzheimer disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. Although the mechanisms underlying apoE4's action in AD pathogenesis are still poorly understood, emerging data strongly suggest that apoE4 contributes to this disease by interacting with different factors through various pathways. Thus, multiple molecular and cellular mechanisms should be considered when anti-AD drugs are developed based on apoE studies.
Differential Effects of Peripheral Manipulations on Vibrissae-Related Patterns in the Trigeminal Brainstem

The expression of galanin and neuropeptide Y (NPY) by primary afferent neurons, including those in the trigeminal (V) system, is markedly up-regulated after peripheral nerve damage and might be expected to influence the response of central somatosensory cells to such damage. In the present study, we assessed the effects of four manipulations that have been used to study development and maintenance of vibrissae-related patterns in the V system-nerve transection, whisker clipping, activity blockade with tetrodotoxin (TTX), and axoplasmic transport attenuation with vinblastine-upon the expression of galanin and NPY by V ganglion cells and their central axons in the V brainstem complex. Both neonatal transection of the infraorbital nerve (ION) and application of vinblastine to it resulted in a marked up-regulation of galanin and NPY in V ganglion cells and their central axon arbors in animals killed on postnatal day 6. Neither whisker clipping nor application of TTX to the ION produced such changes. Both ION transection and application of vinblastine to this nerve resulted in a loss of vibrissae-related cellular patterns in the brainstem, but TTX application and whisker clipping did not. These results raise the possibility that up-regulation of galanin and NPY may play a role in the disappearance of vibrissae-related cellular patterns in the brainstem of rats that sustain neonatal ION damage.
Gibt es Subelektronen

Mit den Grundlagen des wissenschaftlichen Denkens unserer Zeit ware es nicht vereinbar, wenn wir unseren Forschungen irgend eine unbewiesene Behauptung stillschweigend zugrunde legen wollten. Wir mussen also der Frage naher treten: Ist das Elektron unteilbar?
Avoiding Diversionary Targets

This article identifies three common flaws in the empirical literature on the diversionary use of force. First, while theoretical models of the diversionary use of force are built on the motivation...
An empirical comparison between nonlinear programming optimization and simulated annealing (SA) algorithm under a higher moments Bayesian portfolio selection framework

The optimal portfolio selection problem has long been of interest to both academics and practitioners. A higher moments Bayesian portfolio optimization model can overcome the shortcomings of the traditional Markowitz approach and take into consideration the skewness of asset returns and parameter uncertainty. This paper presents a comparison between the simulated annealing and the nonlinear programming methods of optimization for the Bayesian portfolio selection problem in which the objective function includes the portfolio mean, variance and skewness. We make the comparison for a utility function that is easily optimized using both methods. In particular we maximize a cubic utility function, and our results show that to achieve the same level of accuracy, the CPU time for the nonlinear programming optimization will be shorter than for the simulated annealing algorithm. Though it is slower, the simulated annealing algorithm is still a viable option for this utility function.
Virtual Manipulatives Used by K-8 Teachers for Mathematics Instruction: Considering Mathematical, Cognitive, and Pedagogical Fidelity

This study examined teachers’ uses of virtual manipulatives across grades K-8 after participating in a professional development institute in which manipulatives and technology were the major resources used throughout all of the activities. Researchers analyzed 95 lesson summaries in which classroom teachers described their uses of virtual manipulatives during school mathematics instruction. The findings indicated that the content in a majority of the lessons focused on two National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (2000a) standards: Number & Operations and Geometry. Virtual geoboards, pattern blocks, base-10 blocks, and tangrams were the applets used most often by teachers. The ways teachers used the virtual manipulatives most frequently focused on investigation and skill solidification. It was common for teachers to use the virtual manipulatives alone or to use physical manipulatives first, followed by virtual manipulatives. One important finding of this study was that teachers used the virtual manipulatives during the main portion of their lessons when students were learning mathematics content. These results represent an initial exploration of teachers’ current use of virtual manipulatives in K-8 classrooms.
Democracy, Power, Genocide, and Mass Murder

From 1900 to 1987, state, quasi-state, and stateless groups have killed in democide (genocide, massacres, extrajudicial executions, and the like) nearly 170,000,000 people. Case studies and quantit...
Behavioral-Physiological factors in the development and management of cancer

Abstract Recent clinical and animal model studies have demonstrated an effect of behavioral variables on the course of cancer. Unrelieved anxiety, helplessness, depression, and the inability to modulate the expression of anger have been implicated as specific predictors of poor prognosis. The endocrinological sequelae of these emotional states may affect certain parameters of cell-mediated immunity involved in host resistance to neoplasia. Both corticosteroids and catecholamines are likely mediators of behavioral effects on immunological function. Hormonal variations may also affect growth of tumors directly, or through nonimmunological tissue specific mechanisms. Behavioral interventions based on elicitation of the relaxation response provide a means of influencing affective and physiological states that may have particular relevance to cancer. Practice of such interventions reduces anxiety and provides a substrate for coping that enhances the patient's sense of control. Such “immunization” against helplessness can forestall depression. Physiological effects of such behavioral interventions occur both on a direct and an indirect level. Elicitation of the relaxation response per se produces physiological alterations consistent with decreased arousal of the sympathetic nervous system. Furthermore, by reducing fear and helplessness, physiological changes related to such dysphoric states may be minimized.
Design and preliminary evaluation of the FINGER rehabilitation robot: controlling challenge and quantifying finger individuation during musical computer game play

Background: This paper describes the design and preliminary testing of FINGER (Finger Individuating Grasp Exercise Robot), a device for assisting in finger rehabilitation after neurologic injury. We developed FINGER to assist stroke patients in moving their fingers individually in a naturalistic curling motion while playing a game similar to Guitar Hero® a . The goal was to make FINGER capable of assisting with motions where precise timing is important. Methods: FINGER consists of a pair of stacked single degree-of-freedom 8-bar mechanisms, one for the index and one for the middle finger. Each 8-bar mechanism was designed to control the angle and position of the proximal phalanx and the position of the middle phalanx. Target positions for the mechanism optimization were determined from trajectory data collected from 7 healthy subjects using color-based motion capture. The resulting robotic device was built to accommodate multiple finger sizes and finger-to-finger widths. For initial evaluation, we asked individuals with a stroke (n = 16) and without impairment (n = 4) to play a game similar to Guitar Hero® while connected to FINGER. Results: Precision design, low friction bearings, and separate high speed linear actuators allowed FINGER to individually actuate the fingers with a high bandwidth of control (�3 dB at approximately 8 Hz). During the tests, we were able to modulate the subject’s success rate at the game by automatically adjusting the controller gains of FINGER. We also used FINGER to measure subjects’ effort and finger individuation while playing the game. Conclusions: Test results demonstrate the ability of FINGER to motivate subjects with an engaging game environment that challenges individuated control of the fingers, automatically control assistance levels, and quantify finger individuation after stroke.
Genetic structure and connectivity patterns of two Caribbean rocky-intertidal gastropods

The extent of gene flow in Caribbean marine communities has been investigated primarily in taxa from coral reef habitats, particularly in corals and reef fishes. Results from empirical population genetic studies in those taxa have indicated the presence of an east –west genetic break between 678 and 708W longitude, and isolation of populations in the Bahamas. Hydrodynamic modelling has further suggested the presence of four connectivity regions that may contribute to genetic isolation. In this study we test for the presence of genetic structure in two gastropods (Cenchritis muricatus and Echinolittorina ziczac) from poorly sampled rocky intertidal habitats, using mitochondrial sequence data. Significant genetic structure was found in C. muricatus (Snn ¼ 0.29, P , 0.001; Fst ¼ 0.022, P , 0.001), but not in E. ziczac (Snn ¼ 0.17, P ¼ 0.48; Fst ¼ 0.022, P ¼ 0.48), in spite of similar larval life histories. The pattern of differentiation does not match a simple east– west model in either species, nor a four-region model, nor do the Bahamas show evidence of isolation. However, the genetic differentiation of Bonaire from other sites that is observed in C. muricatus and E. ziczac is consistent with the previously observed isolation of this location in the trochid gastropod Cittarium pica.
Paternal Pronuclear DNA Degradation Is Functionally Linked to DNA Replication in Mouse Oocytes

We recently demonstrated that mouse spermatozoa contain a mechanism to degrade their DNA into loop-sized fragments of about 50 kb, mediated by topoisomerase IIB, termed sperm chromatin fragmentation (SCF). SCF is often followed by a more complete digestion of the DNA with a sperm nuclease. When SCF-induced spermatozoa are injected into oocytes, the paternal pronuclei degrade their DNA after the initiation of DNA synthesis, but the maternal pronuclei are unaffected and replicate normally. Here, we tested whether the nuclease activity changes in spermatozoa of different maturation stages, and whether there is a functional relationship between the initiation of DNA synthesis and paternal DNA degradation induced by SCF in the zygote. We found that spermatozoa from the vas deferens have a much higher level of SCF activity than those from the cauda epididymis, suggesting that spermatozoa may acquire this activity in the vas deferens. Furthermore, paternal pronuclei formed in zygotes from injecting oocytes with SCF-induced vas deferens spermatozoa degraded their DNA, but this degradation could be inhibited by the DNA synthesis inhibitor, aphidicolin. Upon release from a 4 h aphidicolin-induced arrest, DNA synthesis was initiated in maternal pronuclei, while the paternal pronuclei degraded their DNA. Longer aphidicolin arrest resulted in the paternal pronuclei replicating their DNA, suggesting that delaying the initiation of DNA synthesis allowed the paternal pronuclei to overcome the SCF-induced DNA degradation pathway. These results suggest that the paternal DNA degradation, in oocytes fertilized with SCF-induced spermatozoa, is coupled to the initiation of DNA synthesis in newly fertilized zygotes.
An Investigation of Storage Capacity Required for a Meteor-Burst Communications System

The storage capacity requirement of a burst-type communications system is analyzed. Two main categories of storage devices, which correspond to the magnetic tape and magnetic core type units currently in use on burst circuits, are considered. Storage units used in the present Stanford Research Institute meteor-burst system are analyzed to determine the loss in over-all systems efficiency imposed by limited capacity of these devices. The equations developed provide a convenient method of assessing the storage requirements of any burst system provided certain of its measured parameters are available.
The computational solution of optimal control problems with time lag

A gradient computational procedure is developed for discrete-time optimal control problems in which the current cost and rule governing state transitions depend on the entire past history of states and decisions. A condition necessary for optimality is also deduced in two ways and given physical interpretation.
Effect of Suspended Wastes on System Design

The optimum degree of primary treatment in an activated sludge process is investigated in this study. In this investigation, a so-called parallel biochemical oxidation kinetic model, which takes into account the low metabolic rate and masking effect of suspended wastes, is employed to characterize the kinetics in the aeration chamber. The dynamic programming technique is used to determine the optimal primary clarifier detention time. The analysis shows that the optimal primary clarifier detention time depends on the concentration and masking characteristics of inlet suspended wastes, as well as the concentration of inlet soluble substrate.
Lipids of Prokaryotes–Structure and Distribution

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the structures of the lipids of prokaryotes and the distribution of these lipids in various groups of organisms. It discusses the arrangement of the prokaryotes in the eighth edition of Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology. The presence of acyl and alk-1-enyl chains containing double bonds, methyl branches, or small rings is critical for the maintenance of membrane fluidity that is important for the function of membrane enzymes and transport systems. Variation in polar head groups may also affect membrane fluidity and the association of certain lipid classes with these enzymes and transport systems. The chapter discusses the location of membrane lipids with respect to intracellular membranes. Lipids are often distributed asymmetrically in the two leaflets of a given membrane. Some organisms have evolved dual lipid-biosynthetic capacities that allow them to substitute glycosyl diglycerides or ornithine lipids for phosphatidylethanolamine in the absence of phosphate. Within limits of size and charge, polar lipids may replace one another in biological membranes. Exogenous fatty acyl chains and alk-1-enyl chains may also be substituted for the naturally occurring chains in bacterial auxotrophs. Much more work on membrane mutants is needed to understand the multifaceted roles of prokaryotic lipids. Work on prokaryotic organisms has not only provided an abundance of new insights into their membrane structure and functions, it is also leading the way to a more complete understanding of eukaryotic cell membranes.
ICT in Kenya: Has Technology Affected Electoral Outcomes?

The 2007 Kenyan presidential election was marred by charges of rigging and vote fraud. The result was massive violence in Nairobi, and the Rift Valley, and to a lesser extent in Kisumu, resulting in nearly 2000 dead, and more than 200,000 displaced. The response to this by donors and the Government of Kenya (GoK) was to increase the use of technology in a bid to increase the reliability of voting outcomes. Several methods were tested during the 2010 Constitutional referendum to improve vote counting outcomes, including sending vote tallies by SMS, flying ballot boxes from polling stations to a central counting area, and improving voting registration procedures. An additional influence of technology was that political rumors, some of which were actually untrue, were sent via SMS, sometimes sparking protests and violence. To quell unrest, the Kenyan Government shut down live television coverage of the election for some time period in 2007. In other periods of social unrest, such as the Egyptian Revolution, and the "Walk to Work" campaign in Uganda, governments have successfully shut down cellular telephone service, or attempted to suspend Twitter. ICTs are likely to be implicated at multiple levels: 1) vote counting and vote verification 2) political rumors, 3) information about local violence and voting violations, using technologies such as Ushaidi, and 4) political organizing. The Kenyan state will have to make difficult decisions regarding freedom of speech which implicate technology. This paper will examine this watershed event in African politics from a legal, regulatory, political and technological standpoint. Data were collected in the form of surveys on Election Day in Kenya, March 4, 2013. Approximately 70 surveys were administered throughout the country.
Numerical Solution to a Dispersion Equation

A semi-implicit numerical solution to the differential equation of dispersion in a two-dimensional open channel is developed. Some of the details of the iterative technique and the computer solution are shown. The results for turbulent flows show that the longitudinal distribution of solute concentration approaches a Gaussian (normal) pattern as the dispersion time progresses, and the dispersion coefficient depends jointly on the convective transport and on the turbulent diffusivity. These results provide a rational basis for evaluating the pattern of concentration in the transient phases between the insertion of a slug of solute and its ultimate normal pattern. The substantial computing requirement removes the technique from the realm of practical solutions; it is instead an attempt to explain a heretofore unclear hydraulic phenomenon.
Factor V Leiden: A Clinical Review

Factor V Leiden is the most prevalent genetic thrombophilia in people of European descent. Since its discovery, much clinical information has been gathered regarding the distribution and prevalence of the genetic mutation, the mechanism of thrombophilia, and its association with clinical thromboembolic events. Although its association with venous thromboembolism is clear, the role of Factor V Leiden in other disease states is not clear. A review of the literature regarding the mechanism of hypercoagulability, genetic versus functional diagnostic tests, screening issues, relationship to arterial thromboses, pregnancy and pregnancy complications, and treatment are discussed.
Future Medicine: The Impact of3D Printing

Future Medicine: The Impact of 3D Printing Advances in 3D printing materials, equipment, methods and techniques are already enabling on-demand, highly customized patient treatments. Developed in the early 1990s as a powderbased fabrication technology for the rapid prototyping of tools using metals and ceramics, 3D printing uses a digital file to produce an object of almost any shape via an additive process that lays down successive layers of material. The availability today of 3D printers for home use has led hobbyists to eagerly adopt it as a convenient means for creating simple plastic objects rapidly, cheaply, and with an amazing degree of accuracy. However, developments over the past five years have shown that the impact of this technology is no longer restricted to simple materials and hobbyists.3D printing is seeing tremendous growth in the fabrication of tailored prosthetics, medical implants, novel drug formulations and the bioprinting of human tissues and organs.
Determination of the Density of Gap States in a-Si:H from Studies of Semiconductor/Oxide Multilayer Films

A method for determining the density of states [N(E)] in the upper half of the energy gap in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) is proposed and experimental results are simulated. The method involves the growth and measurement of the planar conductivity in multilayer films in which each layer is separated by a thermally grown oxide. Band-bending occurs at each interface throughout the film thickness. The conductivity parallel to the layers in the films is a function of the band-bending, which in turn depends on N(E), in the energy range through which the Fermi level is shifted. Computer simulations of the oxide-induced band-bending have been used to generate curves of the conductivity as a function of layer-thickness for various N(E). By matching experimental results with the simulation curves, the N(E) may be deduced. The simulations have also been used to show the difference between the bulk conductivity activation energy and effective activation energy which is measured in films influenced by a surface oxide.
Increased suppression during punishment applied to the responding member

Subjects responding with the right hand were punished with electric shock on the right and left hands during alternate 4-min. periods. At low and high intensities there was no differential effect, but at moderate intensities punishment to the responding hand produced more suppression than punishment to the non-responding hand.
Inclusion Detection in Molten Aluminum: Current Art and New Avenues for In Situ Analysis

In order for light metals to meet the demands for critical applications in the automotive and aerospace industries, tight control over the composition and cleanliness of the metal must be achieved before casting. Melt cleanliness manifests primarily in the amount of inclusions present. A review of the state of the art in detecting and quantifying solid particle inclusions is given. Quick analysis of melt composition and quality, carried out in situ, is of great value in casting operations. Such quick measurements in the liquid alleviate analyzing samples in the solid state and thus increase productivity. The use of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy as a new tool for quantifying melt cleanliness in situ is discussed.
Running Lean: Refactoring and the Multiliteracy Center

Abstract This article addresses ways in which multiliteracy centers can be administratively structured to respond to change by encouraging stakeholder participation. To argue for the approach, the article draws from the computer programming concept of refactoring, which is a process software development teams use to share in the development of a system by cleaning up messy computer code. Used as a lens for thinking about the administration of a system like a multiliteracy center, refactoring provides Writing Center Professionals a method for responding to changing institutional contexts by using participatory methods. Further, to illustrate how refactoring as a concept is useful in multiliteracy centers, the article describes a framework for working with stakeholders to support a shared approach to assessment, particularly when considering ongoing revision of a center's policies, procedures, and tools. Finally, the article makes connections between refactoring and lean management principles such as a focus on outcomes, team discovery, shared understanding, failing successfully, and user-centeredness. Drawing from such principles, the article investigates methods of encouraging stakeholder expertise as a way to navigate change in multiliteracy centers, and to create environments that encourage collective engagement and action.
The Stratospheric Photochemistry of Chlorine Compounds and Its Influence on the Ozone Layer

Most gaseous chemical species released at the surface of the earth are removed from the atmosphere rather rapidly, and consequently are not important as stratospheric pollutants. Among the effective tropospheric removal processes or sinks are rainout and washout, especially for water-soluble species; biological interactions; and decomposition by absorption of visible (400–700 nm) or near ultraviolet (300–400 nm) solar radiation. Chemical reaction, either with surface materials or with common tropospheric gaseous species (for example OH radicals), can also be very effective in other cases. However, whenever a molecular species is reasonably inert toward these tropospheric interactions, the molecules can survive long enough to penetrate into the stratosphere and become potential stratospheric pollutants. As such molecules rise higher and higher into the stratosphere, they become exposed to shorter and shorter wavelengths of ultraviolet light, and eventually, at high enough altitudes, all diatomic or polyatomic molecules can be photochemically decomposed by intense solar ultraviolet radiation.
Spatial Pattern of Land Use in Metropolitan Suburban Area:A Case Study of Daxing District in Beijing,China

A case study was done of Daxing District in Beijing,using the landscape pattern and spatial analysis method,to explore characteristics of spatial variation of land use in metropolitan suburban areas from the angle of distribution and location of different industries.Results show that 1) the district as a whole is high in land use rate,but not even.The northern part is higher than the southern part in comprehensive level of land use as a result of distribution of different industries and locations varying in distance from the city,towns,villages and roads,and key towns are higher than general towns in comprehensive level of land use;2) agricultural lands high in intensity of land use,such as facilitated farmland,orchard land and facilitated arable land,account for a large percentage of all the agricultural land and are concentrated around the villages or towns and along the roads,of which the major affecting factors are convenience and cost of production;and 3) the land,regardless of its land use type,is high in fragmentation and low in agglomeration degree and scale.It is,therefore,urgent to reconstruct the village spatial system through rearrangement of the land,and optimize the land use structure and spatial distribution of agricultural land and non-agricultural industrial land by making full use of the advantages of circular economy and multi-functions of the farmland so as to further raise its comprehensive land use efficiency.
Intraoral micro-identification discs.

Intraoral micro-identification discs have recently been utilized to provide a more permanent method of personal identification. A wafer of plastic or metal with a surface area of 2.5 to 5 mm2 and carrying identifying numbers and/or letters (indicia) is bonded to the buccal enamel surface of the posterior teeth. Personal identification can occur after the I.D. disc is identified and the indicia is read. Reading of photoreduced indicia requires the aid of a microscope subsequent to the removal of the microdisc. In situ reading of disc indicia is possible using low power handheld magnifiers if the size of the indicia approximates 0.3 mm. Computerization is an integral part of non-custom alpha/numeric type designs, but a custom disc carries a name, address, and other specific information unique to the manufacturer. The use of a computer improves access to the database and it decreases the amount of data placed on the disc. Microdisc bases may be fabricated using a mylar type plastic or they may be manufactured from a stainless steel blank. Plastic discs are constructed with an internal sandwich containing the photo-reduced indicia. Metal discs are marked with a photochemical etch or engraved with a computer driven YAG laser. Attachment of the disc to the enamel surface is accomplished by conventional etching and bonding techniques and are typically bonded to the buccal surface of the maxillary first permanent molar or the second primary molar. Clear composite bonding material covers the disc so that salivary contamination does not result in degradation of the indicia. Orthodontic style discs with a mesh back carry laser written information that may be cemented with conventional orthodontic bonding cement. Standardization of the indicia and overall design is considered to be an important aspect of patient and professional acceptance.
Novel vibration-based technique for detecting water pipeline leakage

AbstractExacerbating the imbalance between demand for freshwater and available water resources is the sub-optimal performance of water distribution systems, which are plagued with leaks that cause significant losses of treated freshwater. This paper presents an approach for leak detection that involves continuous monitoring of the changes in the correlation between surface acceleration measured at discrete locations along the pipeline length. A metric called leak detection index is formulated based on cross-spectral density of measured pipe surface accelerations for detecting the onset and assessing the severity of leaks. The proposed non-invasive approach requires minimal human intervention and works under normal operating conditions of the pipeline system without causing any operational disturbances. The approach is demonstrated on a 76 mm diameter polyvinyl chloride pipeline test system considering varying leak severities. The preliminary results presented in this paper seem promising and lead to sever...
Japanese Foreign Policy and Policymaking

Few question the assumption that governments build their foreign policies around strategies designed to enhance their country’s national interests and security.1 But aside from protecting one’s territorial integrity from outright invasion or more insidious forms of outside interference, just what are national interests, and from what are nations trying to be secure?
Alterations of Galactosaminyl- and Galactosyltransferases in Cultured Mammalian Cells and in Vivo

A large proportion of the reactions involved in the biosynthesis of cellular constituents are catalyzed by membrane-bound enzymes. A major group of these components is the sialoglycolipids known as gangliosides. These substances contain a common subunit called ceramide (N-acylsphingosine) to which carbohydrate chains are linked by their nonreducing ends. A homologous series of gangliosides is found in normal contact-inhibited cultured mouse cell lines containing 2–4 molecules of hexose and 1 or 2 molecules of N-acetylneuraminic acid (or N-glycolylneuraminic acid) (Figure 1). A larger series of gangliosides is present in normal human brain and the structures of these components are indicated in Figure 2. We have recently observed striking alterations in both of these patterns resulting from specific blocks in the synthesis of gangliosides. The agents which bring about these enzymatic defects in the cultured cells simultaneously cause tumorogenic transformation of the cells. In this chapter we shall examine the potential relevance of the altered ganglioside composition to neoplastic transformation of cells. We shall also indicate the pathological consequences of a particular block in ganglioside synthesis in a novel human metabolic disorder which has recently been identified.
Who needs thyroid function testing at birth

There have been notable advances in terms of what biochemistry laboratories can measure, how quickly they can measure and how much sample is required to do the measuring. This has improved many aspects of clinical care but ease of access and rapid feedback may increase the likelihood of babies undergoing blood tests unnecessarily. Checking thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid hormone concentrations in neonates is a good case in point. Many different neonatal (and adult) symptoms and signs can be linked to abnormal levels of thyroid hormone and so it is easy to understand why doctors are keen to check thyroid function. The potential impact of maternal thyroid disease on neonatal thyroid status also needs to be considered. Approximately 10% of adult women have autoimmune thyroid disease and many babies may be considered eligible for thyroid function testing because of this.1 Interpreting thyroid biochemistry requires the clinician to know what normal is in the first place. The biochemistry report of TSH and thyroxine concentrations may be accompanied by an ‘adult’ reference range which can lead to concerns about possible hypothyroidism or thyroid gland overactivity in healthy babies. Discussions about the threshold above which TSH concentrations can be said to be significantly raised are highly pertinent in the neonatal period.2 ,3 Is a serum TSH of 9 mU/L of any clinical significance? What is the differential diagnosis? Is this result within the normal spectrum at this age? Should the baby undergo further investigation? Should the baby be treated with thyroxine?2 ,3 If the biochemistry is thought to be mildly abnormal, then thyroid function tests are sometimes repeated regularly even though the likelihood of a recognised abnormality of thyroid development is remote. Delivery is associated with a profound change in circulating TSH and thyroid hormone concentrations. Mean free thyroxine …
Preventable Hospitalization Rates and Neighborhood Poverty among New York City Residents, 2008–2013

Knowing which demographic groups have higher rates of preventable hospitalizations can help identify geographic areas where improvements in primary care access and quality can be made. This study assessed whether preventable hospitalization rates by neighborhood poverty decreased from 2008 to 2013 and whether the gap between very high and low poverty neighborhoods changed. We examined trends in age-adjusted preventable hospitalization rates and rate ratios by neighborhood poverty overall and by sex using JoinPoint regression. Prevention Quality Indicators (PQIs) developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality were applied to inpatient hospitalization data from the New York State Department of Health’s Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System. PQIs were classified into composites. From 2008 to 2013, preventable hospitalization rates per 100,000 adults across each poverty group decreased. For very high poverty neighborhoods (ZIP codes with ≥30 % of persons living below the federal poverty level (FPL)), there were significant decreases overall (3430.56 to 2543.10, annual percent change [APC] = −5.91 %), for diabetes (676.15 to 500.83, APC = −5.75 %), respiratory (830.78 to 660.29, APC = −4.85 %), circulatory (995.69 to 701.81, APC = −7.24 %), and acute composites (928.18 to 680.17, APC = −5.62 %). The rate ratios also decreased over time; however, in 2013, the rates for very high poverty neighborhoods were two to four times higher than low poverty neighborhoods (ZIP codes with <10 % of persons below the FPL). While preventable hospitalization rates have decreased over time, disparities still exist. These findings underscore the need to ensure adequate access to quality and timely primary care among individuals living in high poverty neighborhoods.
Impact of context dependenent variability in CMOS embedded with SiGe on circuit performance & power

For CMOS circuits, the increase in power consumption has been curtailed in recent years by introducing mechanical stress to achieve device speed gain over and above the traditional speed vs. power tradeoffs achieved only by scaling gate lengths. Starting with the 90nm silicon node, induced compressive stress by embedded SiGe is being used to increase the hole mobility in PMOS. Because of the context dependence of this stress, local variability of the device parameters is expected to increase with this process method. In this paper, we discuss a method of direct measurement of the channel stress using Synchrotron X-ray diffraction and show the impact of resulting increased mobility and increased local variation on the circuit performance using Monte Carlo SPICE simulations of CMOS invertor based as well as NAND based ring oscillators. Simulation results demonstrate how lower supply voltage can be used to meet performance targets with lower power consumption.
Self-determination theory and weight loss in a Diabetes Prevention Program translation trial.

We examined self-determination theory (SDT) and weight loss, and hypothesized that the Diabetes Prevention Program’s (DPP) intervention would result in an increase in autonomous regulation of motivation (AR) in participants. Further, that those with higher AR, and those who perceived educators as supporting SDT-defined needs, would lose more weight. Support, Health Information, Nutrition and Exercise (SHINE) Study data (N = 257) were analyzed. SHINE was a randomized, controlled DPP translation trial (2-years, telephonic, primary care staff). Autonomous motivation in males increased significantly, while females showed no change. Males with high AR, but not females, lost more weight. However, the significance of these relationships varied over time. Participants who perceived educators as more supportive of psychological needs lost more weight (especially males). However, effect of support on weight loss was not mediated by AR change. Autonomous motivation and educator support are relevant to male weight loss. Future research might develop interventions to enhance autonomous motivation and educator support, and understand change pathways.
Life at Low Copy Number: How Dendrites Manage with So Few mRNAs

Most mammalian dendrites have surprisingly few copy numbers of mRNAs relative to the large number of synapses and consequently, at any given moment, the majority of synapses do not have a repertoire of mRNAs within their immediate locale capable of initiating translation-dependent plasticity. The dimensions of the translationally serviceable locale around synapses have boundary parameters that can be estimated. When a synapse receives an input beyond that boundary, the requisite mRNAs for local translation and plasticity may not be there. How a complex dendritic arbor optimizes this paucity of mRNAs opens several functional considerations that are related to the dynamic range of dendritic plasticity, sparse coding, and modifications of firing rates. RNA localization in dendrites may instantiate a neuron's history and establishes a bias toward inputs that synapse on RNA-laden synaptic clusters. Low copy numbers create an element of stochasticity to the induction of translation-dependent plasticity that allows the dendrite opportunities to respond to novel and unexpected inputs.
A designing principle for low dark-current strained layer superlattices

A systematic study of native point defect states is carried out to understand the origin of gap states in strained layer superlattices. Using a combination of first principles Hamiltonian, tight-binding Hamiltonian, and Green's function approach, we calculate the native point defect states in bulk InAs, bulk GaSb, and ten InAs-GaSb strained layer superlattices. We observe that the defects in strained layer superlattices located away from the interface create fewer mid gap states if the constituent bulk materials do not have defect states in that energy interval. This can be used as a design principle to shift the superlattice band gap and reduce or eliminate the mid-gap states.
Therapeutic impact and timing of gastrointestinal malignancy genomic profiling: A single-institution experience.

4100Background: Tumor genomic profiling has become critical in the identification of targeted therapeutic options for patients (pts) with advanced malignancies. Mutational frequencies and their the...
A Prospective Comparison of Transcutaneous and Serum Bilirubin Within Brief Time Intervals.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screening newborns ≥35 weeks' gestation with total serum bilirubin (TSB) or transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) to detect hyperbilirubinemia. Retrospective studies show TcB measurements strongly correlate with TSB; however, few prospective trials document this relationship. Furthermore, Drager's newest TcB instrument, JM-105, remains unstudied in the United States. We measure TcB on foreheads and sternums of newborns using JM-105 and Bilichek devices within 30 minutes of TSB measurement. We find best overall TcB/TSB correlation with JM-105 on the sternum (mean TcB-TSB difference: -0.21 ± 1.15 mg/dL). Correlations between paired measurements for TcB on the sternum using JM-105 were 0.93 for all TSB levels (n = 178), 0.82 for TSB > 10 (n = 19), 0.69 for TSB > 12 (n = 11), and 0.52 for TSB > 15 (n = 6). TcB accuracy via JM-105 on the sternum significantly differed among races ( P < .001). For 5% of paired measurements, TcB with JM-105 on the sternum underestimated TSB by ≥2 mg/dL, and for <1% by ≥3 mg/dL.
Gender differences in the experience of violence, discrimination, and stress hormone in African Americans: Implications for public health

ABSTRACTViolence is more prevalent in African American communities than in other American communities. This has impacts not only on criminal justice interventions but also on the physical and mental health of these communities including their risk for acquiring life-threatening diseases. While many studies have focused on the effects of violence on African American males, we sought to understand the relative gender effects that violence has on African American females. This is of particular interest given the wide array of scientific literature suggesting maternal health has inter-generational health effects. Understanding gender differences associated with exposure to violence, depression, and immune function is an important step in understanding how young women perceive and internalize societal violence directed toward and around them. We analyzed a cohort of 557 young African American adults aged 18–25 years old from the Washington, DC area. We use sociological, epidemiological, mental health, computat...
J chain and myocyte enhancer factor 2B are useful in differentiating classical Hodgkin lymphoma from nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma and primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma

Summary Although most classical Hodgkin lymphomas (CHLs) are easily distinguished from nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) and primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBL), cases with significant CD20 expression cause diagnostic confusion. Although the absence of OCT-2 and BOB.1 are useful in these circumstances, a variable proportion of CHLs are positive for these antigens. We investigated the utility of J chain and myocyte enhancer factor 2B (MEF2B) in the diagnosis of CHL; NLPHL; PMBL; T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma (TCRLBL); and B-cell lymphoma, unclassifiable, with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and CHL, compared with OCT-2 and BOB.1. J chain and MEF2B highlighted lymphocyte predominant (LP) cells in 20/20 (100%) NLPHLs and were negative in 43/43 (100%) CHLs. Fourteen of 15 (93%) PMBLs and 4/4 (100%) TCRLBLs were MEF2B positive, whereas 67% of PMBLs and 50% of TCRLBLs were J chain positive. Three of 3 B-cell lymphomas, unclassifiable, with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and CHL, were negative for J chain and MEF2B. J chain and MEF2B were 100% sensitive and specific for NLPHL versus CHL. MEF2B was 100% sensitive and 98% specific for PMBL versus CHL. Whereas loss of OCT-2 and/or BOB.1 expression had a sensitivity of only 86% and specificity of 100% for CHL versus NLPHL, PMBL, and TCRLBL, lack of both J chain and MEF2B expression was 100% sensitive and 97% specific. J chain and MEF2B are highly sensitive and specific markers of NLPHL versus CHL; are particularly useful in highlighting LP cells; and, with rare exception, are of greater utility than OCT-2 and BOB.1 in differentiating CHL from NLPHL and other large B-cell lymphomas.
Electron-phonon scattering rates in complex polar crystals

The thermalization of fast electrons by phonons is studied in CsI, NaI, ${\mathrm{SrI}}_{2}$, and ${\mathrm{YAlO}}_{3}$. This numerical study uses an improvement to a recently developed method based on a density functional perturbation description of the phonon modes that provides a way to go beyond widely used phonon models based on binary crystals. The method is compared to standard ab initio approaches to the electron-phonon interaction. Improvements to this method are described, and scattering rates are presented and discussed. The relative activity of the numerous phonon modes in materials with complicated structures is discussed, and a simple criterion for finding the modes that scatter strongly is presented.
Rivers at the End of the End of Nature: Ethical Trajectories of the Anthropocene Grand Narrative

Moving the discussion of the Anthropocene further into the realm of the humanities is Celia Deane Drummond’s critique of the Anthropocene’s narrative. Focusing on the ethical implications of the concept, she suggests that the Anthropocene, as an apocalyptic narrative, imposes limits on how we conceive of our future in moral and ethical terms. The idea, she writes, has a tendency to write the story of the environment in sweeping generalizations. Noting the dangers of fatalism in the grand narrative of the Anthropocene, she argues for scholars to focus on the “local river system and its specific instances of human/natural interactions.” Doing so will help foster a “version of postnatural politics” that emphasizes the capacity to shape the future in tandem with other natural systems.