cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the Implications of Mutual Fund Managers’ Reliance on Categories

This study shows that mutual fund managers vary in their reliance on category-level information, relative to firm-specific information about assets. Moreover, fund performance decreases with managers’ propensity to rely on categories. Fund managers display less skill in picking stocks which are more coarsely categorized, especially when the managers rely more on categories. Fund managers’ reliance on categories increases with the demands on their attention, such as when market uncertainty, valuation uncertainty of assets, and portfolio diversification are high. Taken together, the evidence is consistent with fund managers’ limited attention driving their reliance on coarse categories and detrimentally affecting investment outcomes.
Breaking the impasse: Helping communities cope with change at the rural-urban interface

As communities and agriculture change, the juxtaposition of farming and other rural activities has become a battle ground over water and related nutrient management issues, odors, insects, and other community impacts of changing land uses. These conflicts can turn neighbor against neighbor, threaten livelihoods and traditional ways of living, and tear communities apart. Conflicts between just a few neighbors all too often escalate into larger community, county, or state-wide debates over who is “right” and what should be done. If the situation gets out-of-hand, significant economic and emotional costs may result for all involved no matter who “wins.” As resource persons or decision-making authorities, natural resource professionals are often called upon to help resolve these difficult conflicts. The manner in which we respond and the information and assistance provided influence the debate and ultimately affect whether the conflict is resolved satisfactorily. In this article, it is argued that the tendencies of stakeholders and technical experts to frame rural-urban conflicts in single-issue terms and to attempt to solve them with simple “silver bullet” technical or policy fixes are unlikely to address these complex issues effectively. To be successful, natural …
Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome with Multiple Cerebellar Mass-Like Lesions Secondary to Amphetamine (P4.403)

Objective: To report unusual brain MRI findings in a patient with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) associated with amphetamine Background: When patient with PRES showed predominant mass-like lesions in cerebellum on neuroimaging, the diagnosis becomes challenging as tumors and other etiologies cannot be ruled out. Methods: Case analysis and literature review Results: A 45-year-old male with no known significant past medical history presented to emergency department due to an episode of severe headache. Patient denied any other associated symptoms. Initial systolic blood pressure was 250 mmHg and the rest of physical examination was unremarkable. Brain MRI showed multiple round shaped tumor-like hyperintense lesions in bilateral cerebellar hemispheres with minimal involvement of cerebral hemispheres on FLAIR and T2WI . There was no abnormal signal on any other sequences including post contrast study. CT angiogram of head and neck were unremarkable. Given the clinical presentation of high blood pressure, PRES was our first impression. However, the prominent lesions in the cerebellum with tumor-like morphology was uncommon in PRES and warranted further evaluation for alternative diagnosis. The patient was also found to be positive for amphetamine in a urine drug screen. After the cautious reduction of blood pressure, his clinical symptoms resolved. A follow-up MRI three days later showed significant improvement of the lesions. Therefore, PRES continued to be the primary diagnosis. Given the lack of supportive medical history associated to this condition, the likely cause for PRES is more likely related to amphetamine abuse Conclusions: PRES can present with a variety of MRI findings but predominant lesions in unusual locations such as cerebellum are uncommon. A follow up imaging and investigation for other etiologies are critical. Disclosure: Dr. Tantikittichaikul has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ruthirago has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ali has nothing to disclose. Dr. Claudio has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kim has nothing to disclose.
Macrophages modulate the growth and differentiation of rhesus monkey embryonic trophoblasts.

Problem Immune cells within the endometrium at implantation are thought to play an important role in implantation, although their exact role is not well understood. Method of study A co-culture system of rhesus monkey embryos and maternal immune cells was established. Blastocysts obtained by in vitro fertilization were co-cultured with peripheral blood cells or decidual macrophages. Culture media were collected to assess secretions. Embryo growth was monitored, and trophoblasts were evaluated for proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. Results Embryonic trophoblast outgrowths were visible within 6 days of culture, and the area of embryo outgrowth was reduced when blastocysts were cultured with peripheral-derived or decidual macrophages. Trophoblast proliferation was not significantly affected with macrophage co-culture while chorionic gonadotropin secretion was increased. Trophoblast expression of CDH 11 and GJA1 was increased, suggesting that macrophages accelerate differentiation of peri-implantation trophoblasts. Conclusions These results indicate an important role of macrophages in placentation and pregnancy success.
Do Predators and Thermoregulation Influence Choice of Sleeping Sites and Sleeping Behavior in Azara’s Owl Monkeys ( Aotus azarae azarae ) in Northern Argentina?

The spatiotemporal aspects of sleeping behavior are indicative of the ecological pressures that primate species face. We investigated the potential influence of predation and thermoregulatory constraints on sleeping site choice and sleep-related behaviors in a population of cathemeral owl monkeys (Aotus azarae azarae) in Formosa, Argentina. During 10 mo, we recorded data on 153 diurnal sleeping bouts (N = 5 groups), sleeping tree physical characteristics (diameter at breast height [DBH], height, foliage), sleeping sites within the tree, and grouping and positional behavior while sleeping. We also conducted a vegetation survey of potential sleeping trees. Our study groups used only 17 of 58 available tree species, slept in the top fifth of trees, and slept at sites midway between the trunk and crown exterior. Tree DBH, height, and sleeping site height varied among groups according to the forest subtypes within their home ranges. Group members slept in a huddle when temperatures were between 5° and 35°C, and slept separately only with temperatures >20°C. During the wet, hot summer, they slept more frequently under dense foliage; in the dry, cold winter, they preferred sites with light foliage and direct sun exposure, potentially to facilitate sunbathing, which occurred almost exclusively during the winter. While several sleeping site characteristics were consistent with minimizing predation risk, our results also suggest a tradeoff between predator exposure and warmer conditions at sleeping sites, especially during winter. Our results support the predation avoidance and thermoregulatory constraint hypotheses, furthering the possibility that these pressures were also contributing factors in the evolution of their cathemeral activity pattern.
Vertex Generation Methods for Problems with Logical Constraints

Recent work has shown how to use vertex generation methods to solve linear complementarity problems and cardinality constrained linear programs. These problems can be characterized as linear programs with additional logical constraints. These logical constraints can be incorporated into Chernikova's vertex generating algorithm in a natural and straightforward fashion. This study examines the extension of this technique to other linear programs with logical constraints, and discusses its use as a solution procedure for the 0–1 integer programming problem.
Changing Attitudes Toward People With Disabilities Using Public Media: An Experimental Study:

This study explored the change in viewers’ explicit and implicit attitudes toward people with disabilities (PWDs) after they watched person-centered videos, which focused on real-life experiences o...
Unruh effect as a noisy quantum channel

We studied the change of the nonlocal correlation of the entanglement in Rindler space-time by showing that the Unruh effect can be interpreted as a noisy quantum channel having a complete positive and trace preserving map with an ``operator sum representation.'' It is shown that the entanglement fidelity is obtained in analytic form from the operator sum representation, which agrees well numerically with the entanglement monotone and the entanglement measure obtained previously. Nonzero entropy exchange between the system $Q$ and region II of the Rindler wedge indicates the nonlocal correlation between causally disconnected regions. We have also shown the subadditivity of entropies numerically.
Clinicopathologic and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Analysis of a Multifocal Orbital Lymphoid Tumor.

Objective: To distinguish between a multifocal orbital lymphoid tumor and a major simulator represented by a diffuse lymphaticovenous malformation. Methods: We performed a comparison of clinical and radiographic (magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) findings of these two disparate entities and demonstrated how a misdiagnosis can be prevented. Results: Orbital lymphoid tumors develop in adults at around 60 years of age, whereas extensive lymphaticovenous malformations are generally detected in the first decade. Despite these differences, this is the first description of clinical confusion between them. MRI with gadolinium injection in the current lymphoid tumor displayed a low signal on T2-weighted images, rapid and uniform enhancement, and reduced diffusion. Lymphaticovenous malformations are heterogeneous, display poor or only focal perfusion, and fail to exhibit diminished diffusion. Newer techniques such as diffusion-weighted imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging may be able to provide additional differential diagnostic information. The final pathologic diagnosis was an extranodal marginal zone lymphoma. Conclusions: Despite the obvious distinctions between orbital lymphoid tumors and lymphaticovenous malformations, several clinical radiologic specialists misdiagnosed the present orbital lesion as a vascular lesion. A combined clinicoradiographic analysis should obviate such errors and facilitate the correct diagnosis in the future.
Efferent-induced alterations in distortion and reflection otoacoustic emissions in children.

The medial olivocochlear efferent fibers control outer hair cell responses and inhibit the cochlear-amplifier gain. Measuring efferent function is both theoretically and clinically relevant. In humans, medial efferent inhibition can be assayed via otoacoustic emissions (OAEs). OAEs arise by two fundamentally different mechanisms—nonlinear distortion and coherent reflection. Distortion and reflection emissions are typically applied in isolation for studying the efferent inhibition. Such an approach inadvertently assumes that efferent-induced shifts in distortion and reflection emissions provide redundant information. In this study, efferent-induced shifts in distortion and reflection emissions (click-evoked and stimulus frequency OAEs) were measured in the same subjects—5- to 10-yr-old children. Consistent with the OAE generation theory, efferent-induced shifts in distortion and reflection emissions did not correlate, whereas the two reflection emission shifts correlated. This suggests that using either OA...
A novel method for determination of sterility of microcapsules and measurement of viability of encapsulated organisms.

A method of determining the viability of microencapsulated microorganisms (Bacillus Calmette Guerin) is reported. This method was also used to measure the effectiveness of aseptic production of mi-crocapsules in maintaining the interior of the microcapsules free from contamination by microorganisms. This method is advantageous over conventional plating methodology, as plating can only determine external contamination of microcapsules and similar devices. It involves the detection of 14CO2, which is generated by the metabolism of 14C-labeled fatty acid in the growth medium by encapsulated microorganisms. The method depends on the semiper-meable nature of the microcapsule walls, which allows passage of 14C-palmitic acid and 14CO2. BCG organisms encapsulated within an alginate-polylysine-alginate microcapsule (5–15 µm) (1) were shown to be viable, and no contaminating organism(s) was present. Methods suitable for the aseptic production and freeze drying of alginate–polylysine–alginate BCG microcapsules, which retain the viability of the organisms, are reported.
Normal Age-Related Changes: Crystallin Modifications, Lens Hardening

The human lens is a clear tissue that focuses light on the retina. There is little protein turnover and proteins in the center of the lens (the nucleus) are as old as the individual. Alterations to the amino acids in these lens proteins, known as crystallins, are called posttranslational modifications (PTMs), and they accumulate with age. Mass spectrometry is used to identify which amino acids are modified and to elucidate their role in age-related lens changes such as presbyopia and age-related nuclear cataract. A review of known lens PTMs and the functional significance of the various modifications is discussed.
A Comparison of Coupled Freshwater-Saltwater Sharp-Interface and Convective-Dispersive Models of Saltwater Intrusion in a Layered Aquifer System

Abstract Simulated results of the coupled freshwater-saltwater sharpinterface and convective-dispersive numerical models are compared by using steady-state cross-sectional simulations. The results indicate that in some aquifers the calculated sharp interface is located further landward than would be expected.
Mitochondrial Populations Exhibit Differential Dynamic Responses to Increased Energy Demand during Exocytosis In Vivo.

Summary Mitochondria are dynamic organelles undergoing fission, fusion, and translocation. These processes have been studied in cultured cells; however, little is known about their regulation in cells within tissues in vivo. We applied four-dimensional intravital microscopy to address this in secretory cells of the salivary gland. We found that mitochondria are organized in two populations: one juxtaposed to the basolateral plasma membrane and the other dispersed in the cytosol. Under basal conditions, central mitochondria exhibit microtubule-dependent motility and low fusion rate, whereas basolateral mitochondria are static and display high fusion rate. Increasing cellular energy demand by β-adrenergic stimulation of regulated exocytosis selectively enhanced motility and fusion of central mitochondria. Inhibition of microtubule polymerization led to inhibition of central mitochondrial motility and fusion and a marked reduction in exocytosis. This study reveals a conserved heterogeneity in mitochondrial positioning and dynamics in exocrine tissues that may have fundamental implications in organ pathophysiology.
Sequential Cyclophosphamide and Trametinib Improve Clinical Graft Versus Host Disease and Survival in Murine Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant

Background Ongoing acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) causes significant morbidity and mortality with no standard therapy except corticosteroids, which are broadly immunosuppressive and toxic. Cyclophosphamide (Cy) given day 3 and day 4 is effective for prophylaxis of aGVHD but has proven ineffective when given later as in ongoing aGVHD in both murine and human studies. We previously demonstrated that the MEK inhibitor trametinib (Tram) is effective for aGVHD prophylaxis in murine models of aGVHD through the novel mechanism of inhibition of naive T cells (CD44−CD62L+). Our hypothesis is that ongoing aGVHD could be better inhibited by sequential Cy and post-Cy Tram inhibition (to prevent naive T cells from re-initiating alloreactivity) without compromising graft-versus-malignancy (GVM) responses. Methods Mice were administered sequential Cy and Tram post SCT starting day 12. Efficacy of treatment was assessed in a murine model of MHC-mismatched alloSCT. Overall survival was assessed and clinical GVHD was scored three times weekly. Peripheral blood, spleen, and lymph node cells phenotypes were determined by flow cytometry. GVM was also assessed with A20 luciferase/YFP (A20luc/YFP) lymphoma cells imaged with in vivo imaging system (IVIS). Results Overall survival following sequential Cy and Tram was identical to that seen with T cell depleted bone marrow alone and significantly superior to treatment using either single-agent Cy or Tram (p Conclusions Combination cyclophosphamide and trametinib demonstrates superior overall survival and limits GVHD severity without affecting regulatory T cells or GVM in murine allogeneic stem cell models. Utilizing Cy and Tram are readily translatable and support the notion that clinical approaches can be developed in the future.
Phytoene Accumulation in the Novel Microalga Chlorococcum sp. Using the Pigment Synthesis Inhibitor Fluridone.

Carotenoids are lipophilic pigments found in plants and algae, as well as some bacteria, archaea, and fungi that serve two functions—(1) as light harvesting molecules—primary carotenoids, and (2) as antioxidants, acting against reactive oxygen species–secondary carotenoids. Because of their strong antioxidant properties, they are also valuable for the development of anti-aging and photo-protective cosmetic applications. Of particular interest is the carotenoid phytoene, for its colorless and UV absorption characteristics. In this study, we targeted a reduction of phytoene desaturase (PDS) activity with the pigment-inhibiting herbicide 1-methyl-3-phenyl-5-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]pyridin-4-one (fluridone), which leads to the over-accumulation of phytoene in the recently characterized microalgal strain Chlorococcum sp. (UTEX B 3056). After post-incubation with fluridone, phytoene levels were measured at ~33 ug/mg cell tissue, as opposed to non-detectable levels in control cultures. Hence, the novel microalga Chlorococcum sp. is a viable candidate for the production of the high-value carotenoid phytoene and subsequent applications in cosmeceuticals, as well as more obvious nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.
Analyst Forecast Revision and Market Price Discovery Following Accounting Restatement

We examine whether two qualitative attributes of a forecast revision, analyst characteristics and innovation, explain investors' reaction to the revision signal. We exploit a setting in which increased uncertainty about the firm's future economic performance may stimulate investor demand for high quality analyst research. In this type of information environment, we predict that investors are more able and willing to incorporate the information that analyst characteristics convey about relative forecast accuracy when they receive high-innovation revision signals than when they receive low-innovation signals. The results, from a sample of 8,953 individual forecast revisions for 478 U.S. firms announcing restatements between 1995 and 2003, are consistent with our expectations. We find that high-innovation revisions are associated with greater investor use of accuracy-related factors, leading to faster price discovery for these revision signals. However, uncertainties surrounding the restatements may adversely affect investor ability to assimilate potentially informative aspects of a revision signal.
Multicomponent Adsorption with Uneven Saturation Capacities

In chromatographic separations of large biomolecules, such as proteins, using porous adsorbents, a size exclusion effect may be significant. Some large molecules cannot access either part of the small macropores in the adsorbent particles or all the macropores. This is especially possible in chromatographic separations of large proteins. For a multicomponent system involving components with very different molecular sizes, the extent of size exclusion is not the same for all the components. This causes uneven adsorption saturation capacities (based on moles) for the components. The least excluded component tends to have the highest saturation capacity and vice versa.
Kinomorphs: Shape-shifting tissues for developmental engineering

Abstract Current methods for building tissues usually start with a non-biological blueprint, or rely on self-organization, which does not extend to organ-scales. This has limited the construction of large tissues that simultaneously encode fine-scale cell organization. Here we bridge scales by mimicking developmental dynamics using “kinomorphs”, tissue scaffolds that undergo globally programmed shape and density changes to trigger local self-organization of cells in many locations at once. In this first report, we focus on mimicking the extracellular matrix (ECM) compaction and division into leaflets that occurs in kidney collecting duct development. We start by creating single-cell resolution cell patterns in ECM-mimetic hydrogels that are >10x larger than previously described, by leveraging photo-lithographic technology. These patterns are designed to mimic the branch geometry of the embryonic kidney collecting duct tree. We then predict the shape dynamics of kinomorphs driven by cell contractility-based compaction of the ECM using kinematic origami simulations. We show that these dynamics spur centimeter-scale assembly of structurally mature ~50 μm-diameter epithelial tubules that are locally self-organized, but globally programmed. Our approach prescribes tubule network geometry at ~5x smaller length-scales than currently possible using 3D printing, and at local cell densities comparable to in vivo tissues. Kinomorphs could be used to scaffold and “plumb” arrays of organoids in the future, by guiding the morphogenesis of epithelial networks. Such hybrid globally programmed/locally self-organized tissues address a major gap in our ability to recapitulate organ-scale tissue structure. Significance Statement Engineers are attempting to build tissues that mimic human diseases outside of the body. Although stem cells can be coaxed to form small organoids with a diversity of cell types, they do not properly organize over large distances by themselves. We report a strategy to mimic developmental processes using dynamic materials that attempt to guide a cellular “blueprint” towards a more complex tissue endpoint. We call these materials kinomorphs, combining the Greek kino (propel, drive) and morfi (form, shape), since they seek to shepherd both the shape and developmental trajectory of cell collectives within them. Kinomorphs could pave the way towards organ-scale synthetic tissues built through a hybrid of engineering and self-organization strategies.
How Design Standardization CSFs Can Impact Project Performance of Capital Projects

AbstractStandardization is a commonplace idea today; however, capital projects have not been able to achieve high levels of facility design standardization. The Construction Industry Institute (CII...
Characteristics of toddlers with early versus later diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorder symptom emergence is heterogeneous, yet literature comparing young children diagnosed early versus later is relatively scant. Toddlers diagnosed with autism spectrum disord...
Incarcerated Women and Children

In the fourth chapter, it is not my intention to provide historical details on Iranian women’s imprisonment. Instead, I use the current historical period to demonstrate the costs of mothers’ incarceration for their families, especially children. While the mother-child interactions were affected by the security environment, those who were separated from their mothers struggled with other issues, which makes it necessary to ask if the mother’s incarceration also implies the child’s punishment. Children were tortured like criminals along with others regardless of their age and whether they were in or outside the prison. As long as punishment is the dominant discourse of the penal system, the minds and bodies of whomever are around incarcerated offenders will be tortured and remain under tremendous strain.
In Memorium of Dabney Ewin, M.D.

Our dear friend, mentor and colleague Dabney Ewin passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 in Metairie, Louisiana. He had been living with his daughter Leila E....
The Impact of Financial Histories on Individuals and Societies: A Replication and Extension of Berg Et. Al.

This paper studies how successive generations of laboratory societies organize themselves when given reports of financial transactions from previous generations. We define an increase in societal organization as a reduction in the entropy of the distribution of amounts sent and returned by successive generations of players in the Investment Game. Our entropy analysis of data from Berg, Dickhaut, and McCabe (Games and Economic Behavior, 10, pp. 122-142, 1995) indicates that the provision of a financial history significantly reduced the entropy of the amounts sent by Investors and amounts returned by Stewards, and marginally reduced the entropy in the joint Investor/Steward distribution. We replicated the Berg. et al. (1995) setting and gathered data from three additional societal generations to further test the predictive power of our hypothesis that successive generations of individuals in laboratory societies will increasingly organize themselves over time when they receive reports of financial transactions undertaken by the preceding generation. Participants in Session I (the first generation) received no financial history, whereas participants in the subsequent Sessions II-V received a report that summarized the financial history of the immediately preceding session. Thus, Sessions I and II replicate the original Berg et al. (1995) study, and Sessions III-V extend that study. In general, our results across sessions indicate that entropy declined in both the amounts sent by Investors and the percentage returned by Stewards, but these patterns are weaker and mixed compared to those in the Berg et al. (1995) study. The concluding section discusses the implications of our results and identifies opportunities for future research.
Things II: Place, Space, and Time in the Sign of Property

Property is a complex sign in semiotics. It is also the source of tension and conflict in law. This essay examines property in triadic terms consisting of what Charles S. Peirce would identify as the icon (firstness), the index (secondness), and the symbol (thirdness). From this perspective we unfold the ideas of place, space, and time at the iconic level of the sign of property. Discussions address the way in which property serves as a coded system for communicating information about a given community’s values and its cultural-interpretive hierarchy. Much like an aboriginal song-line, property functions as a way of imprinting the land with impressions of social ordering related to place, space, and time. In the context of global trade we therefore observe property conflicts, which are sometimes not so much about the technical language of property as they are about tensions among the embedded values in competing signs of property.
Statistical Approaches to Optimize QACT Frequency During Proton Therapy: A Single Institution Study.

Purpose/Objective(s) Patients treated with proton beam therapy (PBT) undergo routine quality assurance CT (QACT) scans during their course of treatment, which determines whether the initial plan remains accurate for the whole course of treatment or needs to be re-planned based on the findings on their QACTs. The objective of this study is to optimize and reduce the QACT frequency, while maintaining the treatment quality. The benefits of reducing QACT frequency include reducing imaging dose and optimizing use of patient time and staff resources. Materials/Methods We performed a retrospective IRB-approved single-institution review of all patients of three anatomical sites (e.g., Brain, Prostate and Head and Neck [HN]), who were treated with PBT between July 2019 and July 2020. The number of patients treated for these three sites, number of QACTs performed, number of patients re-planned and number of re-plans are listed in the table. For each anatomic site, the QACT and re-planning pattern were analyzed to find the optimal frequency of QACTs needed. Results Brain: Out of 204 QACTs, 6 (2.9 %) were used for adaptive planning. One patient was re-planned twice. It was found that 3 out of 5 patients were re-planned due to weight loss or anatomical changes. All revision plans were delivered within 7-12 fractions of the treatment. One QACT per patient at the beginning of the second week of the treatment was proposed for the brain patients. Prostate: Out of 236 QACTs, 3 (3.6 %) were used for adaptive planning. All three revision plans were delivered within 17-29 fractions of their treatments. Hence, one QACT per patient during the middle of the treatment course was proposed for this group. HN: Out of 97 patients, 32 (33 %) underwent adaptive planning on their QACTs. A total of 37 revision plans were made on 437 QACTs, where 8.5% QACTs were used for adaptive planning. Out of 32 patients re-planned, 26 of them were due to either weight loss or anatomy change and/or tumor shrinkage, 4 patients were due to need for a new mask and the remainder due to air density changes within sinuses. The average time between a QACT and the revision plan delivery was five days. Bi-weekly QACTs were proposed for the HN patients. We found no adaptive planning occurred in the last week of treatment. Conclusion The above newly proposed quality assurance CT (QACT) patterns for these three anatomical sites are the optimal patterns, while maintaining the treatment quality. Following this analysis, we have adopted a new paradigm with decreased routine QACTs in these disease sites. To mitigate any risks due to the proposed QACT patterns, increasing the cone beam CT (CBCT) frequency during treatment is recommended.
C5a/CD88 signaling alters blood-brain barrier integrity in lupus through nuclear factor-κB.

Inflammation is a key factor in a number of neurodegenerative diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The complement system is an important mechanism in initiating and amplifying inflammation. Our recent studies demonstrate that C5a, a protein fragment generated during complement activation could alter the blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, and thereby disturb the brain microenvironment. To understand the mechanism by which this occurs, we examined the effects of C5a on apoptosis, translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NFκb) and the expression of Iκbα, MAPK, CREB and TJ protein, zona occludens (ZO-1) in mouse brain endothelial cells. Apoptosis was examined by DNA laddering and caspase-3 activity and the distribution of the ZO-1 and the p65 subunit of NFκB were determined by immunofluorescence. Inhibition of CD88 reduced translocation of NFκb into the nucleus, altered ZO-1 at the interfaces of neighboring cells, decreased caspase-3 activity and prevented apoptosis in these cells. Our results indicate that signaling through CD88 regulates the BBB in a NFκb dependent manner. These studies suggest that the C5a receptor, CD88 is a promising therapeutic target that will reduce NFκb signaling cascades in inflammatory settings.
Service Oriented Architecture Pitfalls

The distributed software systems theory is comprehensively described and also deeply understood in academic community. The domain has its own interesting history of research and application. Almost every computer science graduate has some knowledge of distributed algorithms or fundamental properties and goals of such systems. And almost every software product nowadays is relying on some sort of a distributed system. It is therefore surprising that we are witnessing repeated failures of enterprise application integration middlewares, one of the most promising incarnations of the theory. The enterprise software industry is aligning behind new attempt to deliver so called Service Oriented Architecture (SOA), which is supposed to fix the existing middleware problems and finally deliver an ecosystem of applications talking to each other seamlessly. Despite all the promises and rightful expectations, there is very high risk of yet another failure though. The goal of this paper is to suggest how to give SOA a chance.
Maryland's Adoption of a Code of Evidence

This short paper discusses the history and implications (from a 1994 perspective) of the then newly adopted Maryland Rules of Evidence. "The result is a code of evidence that is organized and numbered almost identically to the Federal Rules of Evidence and the Uniform Rules of Evidence, so as to facilitate the location, as persuasive authority, of cases in federal and other state jurisdictions construing similar rules." The paper goes on to further explain the derivation of specific rules, and how provisions of the Maryland Rules differ from the Federal Rules, and why the state chose to differ. Also mentioned is how case law affected some differences.
Hexadecapolar Kondo effect in URu2Si2

We derive the coupling of a localized hexadecapolar mode to conduction electrons in tetragonal symmetry. The derivation can be easily adapted to arbitrary multipoles in an arbitrary environment. We relate our model to the two-channel Kondo (2CK) model and show that for an f(2) configuration a relevant crystal field splitting in addition to the 2CK interaction is intrinsic to tetragonal symmetry. We discuss possible realizations of a hexadecapolar Kondo effect in URu(2)Si(2). Solving our model we find good agreement with susceptibility and specific heat measurements in Th(1-x)U(x)Ru(2)Si(2) (x≪1).
Clustering of Functionally Related Genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Genes for the mandelate and benzoate pathways in Pseudomonas aeruginosa are clustered to a greater degree than that predicted on the basis of the induction pattern.
Environmental signal processing (ESP): an application of three-dimensional matched field processing in the ocean

Summary form only given. Simulations of matched field processing (MFP) in a complex three-dimensional ocean environment indicate that the environment itself can be exploited for the purpose of array processing. Work discussed in a preceding poster paper has been extended to the range-dependent 3-D environment case. Self-consistent MFP simulations in a noisy 3-D environment have been produced using the same numerical model for constructing the signal and correlated noise field. The approach has been applied to an ocean environment that has a portion of the Gulf Stream running through an area of bathymetric variability together with a storm that produces an anisotropic (horizontally and vertically correlated) noise field. Linear and nonlinear MFP processing is considered for vertical and horizontal arrays. The complexity of the environment has been shown to enhance MFP rather than degrade it. >
Glucose and gluconate metabolism in a mutant of Escherichia coli lacking gluconate-6-phosphate dehydrase.

dehydrogenase, and2-keto-3-deoxygluconate-6phosphate aldolase) werepresent inthemutant. Whenthemutant wasgrownongluconate-1-14C, alanine isolated fromprotein wasunlabeled, showing that thedehydrase wasabsent invivoandthat thesole pathway ofgluconate metabolism inthemutantwasthehexose monophosphate shunt. Themutant grewongluconate witha doubling timeof155min,compared withtheparent strain's 56min.Onglucose and fructose itgrewwithnormal doubling times. Thus, inE.coli, theEntner-Doudoroff pathway isusedforgluconate metabolism butnotforglucose metabolism.
A comparison of head related transfer function interpolation methods

In order to achieve realistic synthesized 3-dimensional acoustic fields over headphones, low-order approximations of head related transfer functions (HRTFs) are desirable not only because of the computational complexity reduction, but also because of the potential for allowing listeners to modify the low-order approximation parameters in order to generate interpolated HRTFs that optimize the source localization percept. By fitting the directional component of a HRTF, commonly known as the directional transfer function (DTF), it is possible to achieve low-order systems for the purpose of interpolating HRTFs even if the number of parameters required to approximate the entire HRTF is relatively large. The present paper compares the relative performance of interpolation methods for both all-zero and pole-zero modelling of the DTFs. With the goal of developing better interpolation methods by incorporating subjective preferences, active sensory tuning (AST), which has been previously shown to provide an efficient means of searching through moderate dimensional parameter spaces using subjective feedback, is proposed as a method of providing high quality interpolated DTFs within reasonable time constraints.
Nanostructured Sorbents for Capture of Cadmium Species in Combustion Environments

The pathways of cadmium species to form a sub-micrometer-sized aerosol in a combustion system exhaust were established. Cadmium oxide was the predominant species formed in the experiments and resulted in particles of a mean size of 26-63 nm with number concentrations in the range of 2-8 x 10{sup 6} cm{sup -3}. Two different nanostructured sorbents, a solid montmorillonite (MMT) and an in situ generated agglomerated silica, were used for capture of the cadmium species. The MMT sorbent was not stable at 1000{sup o}C, and structural changes resulted. MMT did not suppress nucleation of cadmium species and partially captured it by weak physisorption as established by the leachability tests. In contrast, the in situ generated silica nanostructured agglomerates had a high surface area, suppressed nucleation of cadmium species vapors, and chemisorbed them effectively resulting in a firm binding, as compared to the MMT sorbent. There is an optimal temperature-time relationship at which the capture process is expected to be most effective. The leaching efficiency under these conditions was less than 3.2%. The nanostructured silica agglomerate size can be tuned for effective capture in existing particle control devices. 46 refs., 8 figs., 2 tabs.
Species Responsible for the Fluorescence of 1: N6‐Ethenoadenosine

1 Fluorescence lifetimes and emission spectra of 1: N6-ethenoadenosine 5′-monophosphate (ɛAMP) in aqueous solution over the pH range 1.5 to 12.0 indicate the presence of only one emitting fluorophore. 2 The loss at low pH of fluorescence emission at 415 nm from the neutral 1: N6-ethenoadenine fluorophore is due to the conversion of the fluorescent unprotonated form to the non-fluorescent protonated form by protonation at N-9. This conclusion is based on the pH dependence of the fluorescence lifetimes and quantum efficiences of ɛAMP over the range 1.5 to 12.0. 3 The observation of a fluorescence quantum efficiency of 86% that of ɛAMP in aqueous solution (pH 6.8) for 1:N6-etheno-9-propyladenine (ɛ-PrAde) in dry dioxane where it cannot acquire a proton in the excited state is direct evidence that the unprotonated form of the ɛ-adenine fluorophore is responsible for the fluorescence emission.
Posterior dynamic stabilization of the lumbar spine: pedicle-based stabilization with the AccuFlex rod system

✓Posterior dynamic stabilization in the lumbar spine is performed in an attempt to reduce loading across the intervertebral disc for the purpose of relieving pain and limiting degeneration while preserving motion. The AccuFlex rod system (Globus Medical, Inc.), a first-generation device, achieves this by changing the properties of the rod within the Protex pedicle screw–based rigid rod system. Helical cuts that have been created in the standard 6.5-mm rod allow for a limited range of motion while providing a posterior tension band that relieves a significant amount of disc loading. The AccuFlex rod system has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for single-level fusion when used in conjunction with an interbody graft. In a study involving 170 patients who underwent fusion surgery for back pain, the 54 who received the AccuFlex construct had statistically similar fusion rates and outcomes (as assessed by visual analog scale and Short Form-16 scores) when compared with 116 patients treated with...
BACTERIA-INDUCED BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN CHICKEN SKIN STORED AT 5°C

SUMMARY: The effect of psychrotolerant bacteria on the water-holding capacity as measured by the extract release volume (ERV), pH and protein degradation in chicken skin stored at 5°C was determined using strains of Achromobacter and pigmented and nonpigmented Pseudomonas. All organisms caused a rapid decrease in ERV to about 50% of the original value during the early log phase of growth before development of off-odor. Changes in pH and content of extractable nitrogenous materials occurred during bacterial growth but were not pronounced until after the count was greater than 108 cells/g of skin and a faint off-odor was detectable. The content of extractable materials decreased during the early log phase, corresponding to the period of rapid increase in pH; later, during the late log or stationary phases of growth, it rapidly or gradually increased, depending on the organism.
GURRR: a global unified resource requirements representation

When compiling for instruction level parallelism (ILP), the integration of the optimization phases can lead to an improvement in the quality of code generated. However, since several different representations of a program are used in the various phases, only a partial integration has been achieved to date. We present a program representation that combines resource requirements and availability information with control and data dependence information. The representation enables the integration of several optimizing phases, including transformations, register allocation, and instruction scheduling. The basis of this integration is the simultaneous allocation of different types of resources. We define the representation and show how it is constructed. We then formulate several optimization phases to use the representation to achieve better integration.
Addressing Cultural and Linguistic Dissonance Between Parents and Schools

In this era of increased diversity in schools, educators may struggle with effective methods for partnering with all parents in their classroom. Although all educators work to engage families, meeting the needs of diverse families sometimes require specific strategies for engaging all families and facilitating their participation as respected members of their classroom. The use of sensitive approaches can meet the needs of individual families by building on the belief that all families can participate—albeit in different ways. This article explores practices necessary for a successful home–school partnership. It describes the benefits of turning challenges into opportunities for success and specific strategies recommended for use with traditionally underrepresented families.
“A Room Full of Chairs around His Bed”: Being Present at the Death of a Loved One in Veterans Affairs Medical Centers

Historically, death took place at home where family held vigil around the dying patient. Today, family presence is an important feature of death and dying in hospital settings. We used hermeneutic phenomenology to explore experiences of being present at the hospital death of a loved one. We conducted in-depth, face-to-face interviews with 78 recently bereaved next-of-kin of veterans who died in 6 Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers in the Southeast United States. Two major themes emerged: 1) “settling in,” characteristic of the experiences of wives and daughters in the initial phase of the patient's hospitalization; and 2) “gathering around,” characteristic of the experiences of a wider array of family members as the patient neared death. An in-depth understanding of experiences of next-of-kin present at the hospital death of a loved one can increase staff awareness of family's needs and empower staff to develop policies and procedures for supporting family members.
Stimulant-induced alterations in dopaminergic and serotonergic function in fetal raphe neurons

Methamphetamine and its structural analogues have been demonstrated to be neurotoxic to CNS dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) neurons both in vivo and in vitro. Our laboratory has been actively characterizing mesencephalic cultures and the effects of methamphetamine exposure on neurochemical and immunochemical indices. The purpose of the present studies was to extend our findings with mesencephalic cultures and compare them with methamphetamine-induced alterations in fetal raphe cultures that contain both DA and 5-HT cells. Methamphetamine (10 and 100 microM) was added to the cultures 24 h after plating and fresh daily thereafter. The effects of chronic methamphetamine exposure on [3H]-DA and [3H]-5-HT uptake were determined after 5 days of drug treatment. Additional cultures were immunochemically analyzed for the presence of DA- and 5-HT-containing cells and total neuronal density. Results indicate that repeated methamphetamine exposure decreased DA and 5-HT uptake. Furthermore, repeated exposure to the higher concentration of methamphetamine (100 microM) caused a significant reduction in the number of DA and 5-HT cells as well as reducing the total neuronal density. This would suggest that this higher concentration of methamphetamine results in generalized neurotoxicity. Exposure to 10 microM methamphetamine resulted in more specific effects on dopaminergic function. These findings indicate that repeated methamphetamine administration can induce similar alterations in both dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons in raphe cultures.
Effect of benzyl-1,3-benzodioxole derivatives on juvenile hormone binding by components of the hemolymph from the mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata wiedemann

Abstract 1. Competitive displacement assays showed the presence of a single saturable high-affinity binder for JH III in hemolymph from adult female C . capitata . 2. The dissociation constant K d and total binding capacity B max for the binder were 0.93 × 10 −7 M and 7.46 nmol/mg protein respectively. 3. The order of affinity of JH homologs and an analog for the hemolymph binder was JH III > JH II > JH I > (7S)methoprene. 4. Three benzyl-1,3-benzodioxole derivatives (BBDs), coded J2581, J2710, and J3263, were ineffective in blocking JH III binding to hemolymph components. 5. The relationship between BBDs, vitellogenesis, and hemolymph binders and a proposed mode of action of BBDs are discussed.